Number of killed in earthquake in Afghanistan rises to 22

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake has struck western Afghanistan killing dozens of people, media have reported.

At least 12 people were killed after an earthquake hit western Afghanistan on Monday (Jan 17), an official said, media reports from Afghanistan have reported.

The victims died when roofs of their residential houses collapsed in Qadis district in the western province of Badghis, district governor Mohammad Saleh Purdel told AFP.

The quake was magnitude 5.3, according to the US Geological Survey, which originally recorded the magnitude as 5.6.

“Several people were also injured in today’s earthquake,” Purdel said, adding that the victims included women and children.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

Earthquakes can cause significant damage to poorly built homes and buildings in impoverished Afghanistan.

Sputnik has quoted local sources as saying that the number of the killed in the quake increased to 22.