At least eight members of a single family have been killed following a powerful earthquake that struck parts of Afghanistan, authorities confirmed.
The 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit on Friday evening, with its epicentre in Badakhshan Province in the country’s northeast, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 186 kilometres and was felt across several regions, including the capital, Kabul.
Officials said the victims were from the Gosfand Dara area of Kabul Province, where an entire household perished. A two-year-old child was the only survivor but sustained injuries and is receiving care.
Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain, particularly around the Hindu Kush region, makes it highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to the collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
The latest tragedy comes months after a devastating magnitude 6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying entire villages—one of the deadliest disasters in the country’s recent history.
Authorities continue to assess damage and monitor aftershocks as communities grapple with the aftermath of the latest quake.
