Afghanistan quake kills 12, including 8 from family who had just left Iran

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 struck Afghanistan on Friday at 8:42 PM local time (1612 GMT). The epicenter was located in northeastern Badakhshan province, at a depth of 186 kilometers (115 miles). The quake resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, including eight members of the same family who had recently returned to Afghanistan from Iran. This information was confirmed by a government official and the Afghan Red Crescent Society. The family that perished in the earthquake was identified as refugees who had just left Iran, and their deaths occurred on the outskirts of Kabul. In addition to the fatalities in Afghanistan, the tremors were felt in neighboring countries, including Pakistan and India, with reports of shaking experienced in major cities such as Islamabad and New Delhi. Authorities are currently assessing the damage caused by the earthquake, but the evaluation may be delayed due to the remote location of the quake's epicenter. The situation remains fluid, and further updates on the impact and response efforts are expected as more information becomes available. The Afghan Red Crescent Society is likely to play a role in the ongoing rescue and recovery operations in the affected areas.