Kabul quake kills 12, including eight from refugee family

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, causing widespread destruction and killing at least 12 people, including eight members of a refugee family who had recently returned from Iran. The tragedy occurred on the outskirts of Kabul, and there was only one survivor: a three-year-old boy who was injured and hospitalised in Kabul. Neighbours recalled a frantic effort to save people as rocks and debris buried homes.

Authorities offered varying tallies in the hours after the quake. One spokesman said the death toll had risen to 12 with four others injured, noting that five homes were destroyed and another 33 significantly damaged, affecting around 40 families across Kabul, Panjshir, Logar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristan. Another government agency, the Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority, reported the toll at nine, though the two figures were not reconciled immediately.

The eight who died belonged to a refugee family who had recently returned from Iran and Pakistan after the government cracked down on foreigners living in those countries in 2023. Heavy rains in recent days had left the ground sodden, contributing to the collapse of walls when the earthquake struck. Neighbor Mohibullah Niazi described a scene of devastation, saying, “For about three minutes, I could hear the voices of these people, but we couldn’t do anything.” Residents began salvaging bricks, blankets and cooking utensils from the rubble as rescue teams arrived.

Officials noted that the wall collapse and subsequent aftershocks complicated rescue efforts, with urgent relief and shelter supplies now needed for affected families across the region. The survivor remains in hospital, while communities start the slow process of recovery amid ongoing tremors and the threat of further rainfall.

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