• At least 12 people were killed in a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan.
• Among the deceased, eight were members of a family recently returned from Iran.
• The earthquake affected various provinces, causing widespread damage and injuries.
• The only survivor from the family was a two-year-old boy who was injured.
• The earthquake highlighted Afghanistan's vulnerability to natural disasters.

A powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan on Friday, resulting in at least 12 fatalities, including eight members of a family who had recently returned from Iran. The 5.8-magnitude quake, with an epicenter in the northeastern region, devastated communities in Kabul and surrounding provinces, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure, according to aa and Channel News Asia.

The Afghan National Disaster Management Authority reported that a house collapse in the Bagrami district killed the family, with one child being the sole survivor, a boy about two years old who is currently hospitalized with injuries. The earthquake, felt widely including in neighboring Pakistan and parts of India, occurred at a depth of approximately 186 kilometers, as reported by Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

Witnesses described the destruction caused by the quake, noting that heavy rains prior to the earthquake made the ground more unstable. The wall of the tent where the returned family was staying collapsed onto them during the tremors, highlighting the risks faced by many returning refugees living in inadequate conditions, according to Los Angeles Times and aa.

The earthquake also resulted in damage beyond fatalities, with the Afghan deputy government spokesman indicating that five houses were completely destroyed and over thirty partially damaged across various provinces, affecting many families. Authorities and local residents hurried to rescue operations as the news spread, emphasizing the urgency of disaster response efforts in Afghanistan's challenging environment, as reported by Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.