KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least 12 people were killed and four others injured following an earthquake that struck Afghanistan last night, according to Taliban officials.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban, said today (Saturday, April 4) on X that five residential houses were completely destroyed and 33 others were partially damaged as a result of the quake.
According to the United States Seismological Center, the earthquake measured 5.8 in magnitude and occurred in the northeastern part of the country. The tremor struck at 8:42 p.m., approximately 35 kilometers south of Jurm district in Badakhshan province, at a depth of 186.4 kilometers.
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban, citing figures from the Red Crescent Society, reported that recent floods and natural disasters across the country have left at least 61 people dead. He added that four people remain missing and 116 others have been injured.
Mujahid further stated that a total of 2,448 houses have been either completely or partially destroyed. Additionally, around 26,841 jeribs of agricultural land have been damaged, and approximately 1,045 livestock have perished.
Despite the destruction, recent rainfall has raised hopes for easing the country’s prolonged drought conditions.
However, the Meteorological Department of the Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Aviation has warned of further severe weather. Heavy rainfall and potential flooding are forecast in 24 provinces, including Herat, Farah, Badghis, Nimroz, Faryab, Jawzjan, Balkh, Sar-e Pol, Ghor, Daikundi, Uruzgan, Helmand, Kandahar, Baghlan, Samangan, Takhar, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Logar, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, and Nuristan.
Rainfall is expected to range between 10 and 35 millimeters in these areas. The department also predicted strong winds reaching speeds of 50 to 85 kilometers per hour in western, southern, and northern provinces, along with possible snowfall in mountainous regions.
Additionally, a recent forecast by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicated that widespread rainfall was expected across Afghanistan between March 30 and April 5, particularly in central, eastern, and southeastern regions, increasing the risk of flash floods. While the continued rainfall has improved soil moisture and supported rainfed agriculture and crop growth, it has also contributed to casualties, with at least 17 people killed and 26 others injured in rain-related incidents over a two-day period.
The combination of recent earthquakes, floods, and severe weather forecasts highlights the growing vulnerability of communities across Afghanistan, particularly in remote and mountainous areas where infrastructure is limited and emergency response capacities remain weak.
