Quake in Afghanistan kills eight from one family

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck Afghanistan late on Friday, April 3, has left eight members of a single family dead, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

The quake occurred at 20:42 local time and originated at a depth of 186 kilometres, with its epicentre in Badakhshan province in the northeast, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The tremors were felt across multiple regions, including Kabul province, where the fatalities were reported.

Al Arabiya, citing the Health Ministry, reported that all eight victims belonged to the same family. A two-year-old child was the only survivor and sustained injuries, ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said.

Afghanistan lies in a highly seismic region along the Hindu Kush mountains, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet. The country has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past, including a magnitude 6 quake in August last year that claimed more than 2,200 lives in the east.

By Tamilla Hasanova