at least 26 dead in an earthquake in the west of the country

The earthquake, which occurred on Monday, was of a magnitude of 5.3 according to the American Seismological Institute (USGS).

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An earthquake killed at least 26 people and injured Monday, January 17, in western Afghanistan, local authorities announced. The victims perished when their homes in Qadis district, Badghis province, collapsed, Governor Mohammad Saleh Purdel said. “There were also injuries in the earthquake”, said the Afghan official, indicating that women and children were among the victims. A first assessment reported 12 dead.

The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.3, according to the United States Seismological Institute (USGS), which had initially reported a magnitude of 5.6.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range which lies at the junction between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. These earthquakes can be particularly devastating due to the low resistance of buildings in Afghanistan.


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