Trending Now - Deadly 5.8 Magnitude Quake Claims Eight Lives in Afghanistan

WHO:

Al Jazeera - The household's only survivor was a boy aged around two years old.

ABC News - The earthquake affected parts of northern and eastern Afghanistan and western Pakistan.

WHAT:

Al Jazeera - An earthquake in Afghanistan killed eight members of the same family when their home collapsed.

Al Jazeera - The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.8.

Al Jazeera - The US Geological Survey reported the quake struck at a depth of 186 km (115 miles).

Al Jazeera - Strong tremors were felt in multiple parts of Afghanistan, including Kabul, and in the Indian capital New Delhi.

Al Jazeera - There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in areas closer to the epicenter.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - The earthquake occurred in the Gosfand Dara area of Kabul province.

Al Jazeera - The epicenter was located in the northeastern province of Badakhshan.

Al Jazeera - Kabul is approximately 290 km (180 miles) southwest of the epicenter.

Al Jazeera - The quake was felt in Pakistan, including in the capital Islamabad and the regions of Peshawar, Chitral, Swat, and Shangla.

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - The earthquake struck at 8:42 PM local time on April 1st, 2026 (16:12 GMT).

Al Jazeera - The Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman reported the incident on April 2nd, 2026.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes due to its location along the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - Many homes in rural and outlying areas of Afghanistan are poorly built with bricks, wood, and mud, contributing to the high casualty rates during earthquakes.

(UPDATED April 4, 2026 17:08 UTC)

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 struck the northeastern province of Badakhshan in Afghanistan on Wednesday at 8:42 PM local time, resulting in the tragic death of eight family members when their home collapsed. The only survivor of this incident is a two-year-old boy, while strong tremors were felt across northern and eastern Afghanistan, as well as in parts of western Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad. The US Geological Survey reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 186 kilometers, and Afghanistan's Health Ministry confirmed the incident on Thursday, highlighting the country's vulnerability to such disasters due to its geological location and the poor construction of many homes.