Frequent Earthquakes in Afghanistan

Context:

• Recently, the Multiple earthquakes have hit Afghanistan.

Earthquakes in Afghanistan: Why do earthquakes frequently occur in Afghanistan?

• Location: Afghanistan is located over multiple fault lines in the region where the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates meet. These plates collide often, leading to significant tectonic activity in the region.

• Northward movement of the Indian Plate: The northward movement of the Indian Plate towards the Eurasian Plate causes compression, uplifting the Himalayas and generating tectonic stress that deforms the crust and creates earthquakes through fault movements.
• Active Fault Systems: Afghanistan is also crisscrossed by various active fault systems like the Chaman Fault and the Main Pamir Thrust. These faults are the sources of many earthquakes in the region.
• Tectonic Plates cause earthquakes in Hindu Kush and Pamir Knot: Afghanistan is situated in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which is one of the most seismically active regions in the world.

News Source: The Hindu

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