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Shallow earthquakes and active tectonics in eastern Afghanistan

Brief studies of microearthquakes in four separate parts of eastern Afghanistan reveal a high level of seismicity over a broad area. In general, the activity is not concentrated on well-defined faults, nor does it define new faults, but seismicity on or close to the Chainart and Sarubi faults attests to their activity. First motions of P waves are consistent with left- and right-lateral strike-slip motion, respectively, on these two faults. Fault plane solutions and composite solutions of events in different areas throughout the region differ from one another, but in general, the P axes are parallel to the north-northwest direction of relative motion between India and Eurasia. Several earthquakes beneath Kabul and its immediate surroundings emphasize a need for further study of its seismic hazard.

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