KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – An explosion in Afghanistan’s western Farah province has killed eight members of a single family after explosives stored inside their home detonated, local sources reported.
The blast occurred on Tuesday in Ganj Abad village, Bala Boluk district. The explosives were kept inside the house of a man identified as Malang Jan. He, his wife, and their six children were all killed, according to the sources.
It remains unclear why the explosives were stored in the home. The Taliban authorities have not commented on the incident.
Deadly remnants of war are widespread in Afghanistan after more than four decades of conflict. While many explosives lie buried in fields and villages, others are sometimes collected and stored in homes, often for protection, resale, or lack of awareness about the risks. These practices have repeatedly led to deadly incidents.
According to the United Nations, two-thirds of Afghanistan’s 400 districts are contaminated with explosive hazards, putting about 3.3 million people within one kilometer of dangerous devices. Children are especially vulnerable, often coming across explosives while playing.
Between January 2022 and February 2024, at least 1,401 people were killed or injured by explosive remnants in Afghanistan, 86% of them children, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The UN has appealed for $21.9 million this year to support mine clearance operations, but efforts face major hurdles due to reduced international funding, including the suspension of U.S. aid.
