Afghanistan quake wipes out family of eight, toddler survives
A powerful earthquake in Afghanistan has killed eight members of one family after their home collapsed, leaving only a young child alive. The tremor was felt across several countries, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
A 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of eight members of a single family after their house collapsed in Kabul province, leaving only a two-year-old child as the sole survivor.
According to Al Jazeera, the tragedy occurred in the Gosfand Dara area on Friday evening when the tremor struck, causing widespread fear and structural damage. The child, who survived the collapse, sustained injuries and is receiving medical attention, health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman reported.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the earthquake originated in the northeastern province of Badakhshan at a depth of about 186 kilometres. Despite the epicentre being far from Kabul, strong tremors were felt in the capital and surrounding regions.
Reuters reported that the quake was also felt beyond Afghanistan’s borders, including in parts of Pakistan such as Islamabad and Peshawar, as well as in India’s capital, New Delhi. However, no immediate reports of damage or casualties were recorded in those areas.
Afghanistan’s disaster management authorities noted that remote provinces like Badakhshan often face delays in reporting damage due to difficult terrain and poor communication infrastructure, according to Al Jazeera.
The country lies along the seismically active Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet, making it highly prone to earthquakes. According to Reuters, an average of 560 people lose their lives annually due to earthquakes in the region.
In recent years, Afghanistan has experienced several devastating tremors. The deadliest in recent memory struck in August last year, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying entire villages, particularly in Kunar province.
Experts say the high death toll in many Afghan earthquakes is often linked to poorly constructed homes made of mud bricks and wood, especially in rural areas. Al Jazeera reported that ongoing poverty and limited disaster response capacity continue to worsen the impact of such natural disasters.
Authorities are continuing to assess the situation while monitoring for possible aftershocks.
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