Dushanbe, Tajikistan — A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck Tajikistan on December 2, 2025, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported. The tremor occurred at 04:35:14 IST at a depth of 75 km, with coordinates 37.15°N, 72.43°E, according to an NCS post on X.
The event follows a stronger temblor recorded on November 26, 2025, when a magnitude 4.2 earthquake was reported at 15:18:33 IST. That quake was centered near 38.10°N, 73.51°E at a depth of 90 km, the NCS said.
Tajikistan’s rugged, mountainous terrain contributes to its exposure to a wide range of natural hazards. In addition to seismic risk, the country frequently contends with floods, droughts, avalanches, landslides and mudflows. More than 60 percent of Tajikistan lies in high seismic-risk zones, making rare but potentially destructive earthquakes a persistent concern.
Glacier loss and changing climate patterns further heighten these vulnerabilities. The World Bank’s Climate Change Knowledge Portal estimates that about 30 percent of the country’s glaciers could disappear by 2050, which would affect water supplies that feed hydropower and irrigation systems. Mountainous river basins that depend on glacial melt are among the most at risk, along with fragile mountain ecosystems and isolated forested areas.
Landslides, debris flows and floods also worsen the country’s isolation by damaging bridges and roads and undermining flood defenses that protect communities. Repeated exposure to such hazards, combined with insufficient maintenance, has contributed to gradual infrastructure deterioration across Tajikistan.
International guidance, including advice from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, recommends that planners and engineers combine hazard data and climate-change scenarios with local knowledge when designing or rehabilitating infrastructure to strengthen long-term resilience.
This report is based on information from the National Center for Seismology and syndicated news feeds; the Tribune publishes the material as received and does not assume responsibility for independent verification of the content.
