5.8-magnitude quake kills 12, injures 4 in Afghanistan

KABUL -- At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and four others injured after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck parts of Afghanistan Friday night, deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said on Saturday.

The tremor affected communities in the capital Kabul and the eastern provinces of Panjshir, Logar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristan. In addition to the human toll, it damaged 38 residential houses and affected a total of 40 families, Fitrat said in a post on X.

The epicenter, at a depth of 186.4 km and located 35 km south of Jurm district in northern Badakhshan province, was initially determined to be at 36.55 degrees north latitude and 70.85 degrees east longitude.

Strong tremors were felt in Kabul and adjoining provinces.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, particularly in the geologically active Hindu Kush mountain region. A 6.3-magnitude quake struck the same area in November last year, killing more than two dozen people and injuring nearly 1,000 in Samangan and Balkh provinces.