Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills Eight Members of Same Family in Kabul Province

An earthquake that struck Afghanistan overnight killed eight members of the same family in Kabul province, the health ministry said on Saturday, highlighting the country’s ongoing vulnerability to seismic activity.

The 5.8-magnitude quake hit at 8:42 pm on Friday, with its epicentre in northeastern Badakhshan province, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremor occurred at a depth of 186 kilometres, and shaking was felt across several parts of the country, including the capital, Kabul, AFP journalists reported.

“In the Gosfand Dara area of Kabul Province, eight members of a family died as a result of the earthquake,” Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said in a statement to media.

Officials said a young child, believed to be around two years old, was the only survivor from the household. The country’s disaster management agency reported that the child sustained injuries during the quake and is receiving care.

Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage, though initial reports suggest the impact was concentrated in certain residential areas rather than widespread destruction. Emergency teams have been deployed to affected locations to provide assistance and evaluate structural damage.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes due to its location along the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet. The region is one of the most seismically active in the world, and both deep and shallow quakes are common.

Although Friday’s earthquake was relatively deep, which can sometimes reduce surface-level destruction, it was still strong enough to cause casualties and widespread concern among residents. Many people in Kabul and surrounding areas reported feeling prolonged shaking, prompting some to leave their homes as a precaution.

The disaster comes months after a far more devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. In August, a shallow magnitude 6 tremor destroyed mountainside villages and killed more than 2,200 people, making it the deadliest earthquake in the country’s recent history. That disaster exposed the vulnerability of rural communities, where homes are often built with materials unable to withstand strong seismic shocks.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that Afghanistan’s limited infrastructure and emergency response capacity make recovery efforts difficult following natural disasters. Remote terrain and ongoing economic challenges further complicate relief operations.

Friday’s earthquake, though less destructive than previous disasters, serves as another reminder of the persistent risks faced by communities living in seismically active regions. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and follow safety guidance as aftershocks cannot be ruled out in the coming days.