Magnitude 5.8 Quake Hits Afghanistan And Pakistan And 8 Are Reported Dead In Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan — An earthquake pinch a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 rattled parts of bluish and eastbound Afghanistan and occidental Pakistan precocious Friday. The spokesperson for Kabul’s politician said astatine slightest 8 group are dead.

The region is highly seismically active, and quakes person caused thousands of deaths successful caller years. Friday’s earthquake had an epicenter successful nan Hindu Kush upland range, astir 93 miles eastbound of nan Afghan metropolis of Kunduz, according to nan Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center and nan United States Geological Survey.

With nan epicenter astatine a extent of complete 112 miles, nan quake was felt crossed a wide swathe of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was felt successful nan areas of Islamabad, Peshawar, Chitral, Swat and Shangla, according to nan Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Afghanistan’s Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said Kabul and provincial wellness authorities had been put connected alert.

Last August, a 6.0 earthquake that struck a remote, mountainous portion of eastbound Afghanistan killed much than 2,200 people, leveling villages and trapping group nether rubble. Most casualties were successful Kunar province, wherever group typically unrecorded successful wood and mud-brick houses on steep valleys.

In November, a 6.3 earthquake struck Samangan state successful bluish Afghanistan, sidesplitting astatine past 27 group and injuring much than 950. It besides damaged humanities sites, including Afghanistan’s famed Blue Mosque successful nan metropolis of Mazar-e-Sharif, and nan Bagh-e-Jahan Nama Palace successful Khulm.

On Oct. 7, 2023, a 6.3 quake followed by beardown aftershocks successful occidental Afghanistan killed thousands of people.

Impoverished Afghanistan often faces trouble successful responding to earthy disasters, particularly successful distant regions. Many homes successful agrarian and outlying areas are made from mud bricks and wood, pinch galore poorly built.