Source characteristics of the June 21, 2022 (Mw 6.1) Khost earthquake, Afghanistan

The June 21, 2022, Khost earthquake in southeastern Afghanistan impacted a rural area housing multiple inadequately constructed towns and villages. Reports indicated over 3600 injuries and a minimum of 1163 fatalities. Historical records did not document any significant seismic events in the area prior to this incident. To examine the rupture process of the earthquake, we conducted multiple analyses using teleseismic and InSAR data, employing separate and joint slip inversion. Given that the 2022 earthquake only slightly ruptured the near-surface crust, the results imply that significantly larger earthquakes might occur again in the same location. The main stress was released as an impulsive rupture that lasted only two to three seconds.