Dushanbe [Tajikistan]: A mild earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale struck Tajikistan in the early hours of Wednesday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).
In a post on X, the NCS reported that the quake occurred at 00:14 hours (IST) at a depth of 90 kilometres, with coordinates latitude 36.86°N and longitude 71.73°E.
“EQ of M: 3.6, On: 12/11/2025 00:14:42 IST, Lat: 36.86 N, Long: 71.73 E, Depth: 90 Km, Location: Tajikistan,” the NCS said.
Tajikistan, a mountainous Central Asian nation, is highly susceptible to natural disasters due to its rugged topography and fragile ecosystems. The country frequently experiences earthquakes, floods, avalanches, droughts, and landslides, particularly in glacier-fed river basins that support hydropower and irrigation.
According to the World Bank’s Climate Change Knowledge Portal, climate change is intensifying these risks, with projections indicating that up to 30% of Tajikistan’s glaciers could vanish by 2050. The nation’s isolation further compounds the problem, as landslides and floods often cut off vital infrastructure such as roads and bridges, leaving communities vulnerable and hampering access to essential services.
More than 60% of Tajikistan lies in high seismic risk zones, making it prone to rare but potentially devastating earthquakes. Experts from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) emphasize the need to integrate hazard mapping and climate projections with local knowledge when designing or upgrading infrastructure, ensuring long-term resilience against the increasing threat of natural hazards.
