Significant earthquakes of 2022

January 17, 2022 Earthquake: Qadis, Badghis, Afghanistan

January 17, 2022 · M5.3 · 28 deaths · $400,000 · 800 houses destroyed

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Qadis, Badghis, Afghanistan on January 17, 2022 at 11:40:06 UTC, 11 km below the surface. It killed 28 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date
January 17, 2022
Time
11:40:06 UTC
Place
Qadis, Badghis, Afghanistan
Magnitude
5.3 (Mw)
Focal depth
11 km (7 mi)
Intensity
8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
34.929° N, 63.621° E

The toll

Deaths
28
Injuries
4
Damage
$400,000
Houses destroyed
800

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

The death toll from two earthquakes in western Afghanistan rose to 28, wounding four and destroying 800 homes. Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid said that two earthquakes in the western Badghis province on Monday, killed 28 people, wounded four, and destroyed 800 homes, reported The Khaama Press. A statement released by Zabiullah Mujahid said that the earthquakes have rocked the entire province but Qadis district has suffered the most loss and inflicted more casualties. [...] In the meantime, another spokesperson of the Taliban Inamullah Samangani has said that the number of casualties is only preliminary and it will most probably rise in the coming days. (reference #13112)

At least 28 people killed and 4 injured and more than 800 homes destroyed in Qadis. Obai, Herat, Afghanistan - CDI: 8; Kalainow, Badgīs, Afghanistan - CDI: 7; Herat, Herat, Afghanistan - CDI: 4; Torbat Jam, Khorasan-e Razavi, Iran - CDI: 3; Mari, Mari, Turkmenistan - CDI: 3 (reference #13456)

Note: magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred 17 January 2022, 09:35:57 2022 UTC, 34.885 N 63.67 E. Impacts from both earthquakes combined

0.4 million dollars in economic losses (reference #13723)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 2022The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2022Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 10599.