Afghanistan Earthquake Kills 12, Adds to Flood Deaths of 77 This Week
An earthquake killed at least 12 people in Afghanistan's Kabul province on Friday. This comes after deadly floods killed 77 people earlier this week from heavy rains across the country.
A deadly earthquake struck Afghanistan's Kabul province on Friday, killing at least 12 people and damaging 33 houses, according to Afghan authorities.
The earthquake hit just days after devastating floods swept through many parts of the country. Heavy rains over several days have killed at least 77 people this week and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes.
One tragic example shows how the two disasters combined. Eight members of the same refugee family died when the earthquake caused a wall to collapse on them. The family had recently returned from Iran, and the heavy rains had made the ground soft, making buildings more likely to fall during the quake.
Floods are a regular threat in Afghanistan during winter and spring months. Two years ago, similar flooding killed more than 300 people across the country.
The twin disasters add to Afghanistan's existing struggles with poverty and lack of basic services since the Taliban took control in 2021.
Afghanistan is already one of the world's poorest countries dealing with a humanitarian crisis. Natural disasters like these make it even harder for families to survive and get basic needs like food and shelter.
Rescue efforts continue as authorities assess damage from both the earthquake and floods.
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