Tajikistan, Jan 9: An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 struck Tajikistan on Friday, according to a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The earthquake occurred at a depth of 110 kilometers, and it took place at 2:44 AM IST on January 9, 2026.
The NCS posted the details on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “EQ of M: 5.3, On: 09/01/2026 02:44:16 IST, Lat: 38.26 N, Long: 73.42 E, Depth: 110 Km, Location: Tajikistan.”
This earthquake follows a similar tremor that struck the country just two days earlier. On January 7, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit Tajikistan at a depth of 170 kilometers. The NCS reported the earlier tremor in another post on X: “EQ of M: 4.5, On: 07/01/2026 00:47:15 IST, Lat: 37.43 N, Long: 74.58 E, Depth: 170 Km, Location: Tajikistan.”
Tajikistan, a mountainous and geographically diverse country, is particularly vulnerable to a range of natural disasters. Earthquakes, floods, droughts, avalanches, landslides, and mudslides are common in the region, with certain areas more prone to these hazards. The country's glacier-dependent river basins, which supply hydropower and irrigation resources, are among the most vulnerable, along with fragile ecosystems in its mountains and forests.
Climate change is further exacerbating these vulnerabilities. According to the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, up to 30% of Tajikistan's glaciers are predicted to disappear by 2050, which will have a significant impact on water resources and flood defenses. Tajikistan remains one of the most isolated countries in the world, making it more susceptible to the effects of landslides, floods, and debris flows that can block roads and damage vital infrastructure.
The country's infrastructure, already facing chronic issues, is gradually deteriorating due to a lack of proper maintenance and repeated exposure to natural hazards. The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery emphasizes the importance of integrating hazard information and climate change scenarios into the design of new infrastructure projects, as well as the rehabilitation of existing ones, to improve resilience in the long term.
As of now, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the latest earthquake, but authorities continue to monitor the situation.
