Afghanistan Twin Quakes Kill At Least 22 (5.3, 4.9)

5.3 magnitude earthquake kills dozens in western Afghanistan

At least 26 people were killed after an earthquake hit western Afghanistan.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake was magnitude 5.3 and was followed by a 4.9 magnitude earthquake two hours later.

The death toll included five women and four children. Four other people were injured in the quake, said Baz Mohammad Sarwary, a spokesman for the province of Badghis, according to Al Jazeera.

Sarwary reportedly added that some of the victims died after the roofs of their houses collapsed in the Qadis district. He also warned that the death toll could go up, as Badghis is mountainous and one of the poorest and most underdeveloped areas in the country.

Mullah Janan Saeqe, who leads the Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of State for Emergency Affairs, confirmed the death toll and added that more than 700 houses had been damaged in the earthquake, Al Jazeera reported.

The earthquake comes as Afghanistan suffers a humanitarian crisis after the Taliban took over following the U.S. withdrawal in August. Since then, the country's international assets and aid have been frozen. 

Afghanistan twin quakes kill at least 22 in poorest areas

At least 22 people have been killed so far after back-to-back earthquakes struck the west of Afghanistan on Monday, officials said.

According to data from the US Geological Society (USGS), the 4.9 and 5.3 magnitude quakes affected the north-west province of Badghis, where it caused house and building collapses.

A spokesman told AFP four children were among those found dead in the rubble.

They added that more than 700 houses had been damaged.

The USGS captured two earthquakes on Monday, which hit about 50km (31mi) from Qala-e-Naw, the capital of the province.

The first quake hit in the afternoon, and the second followed about two hours later. Its impact was most felt in the Qadis and Mugr districts.

BBC Pashto reported that the Qadis district chief, Mohammad Saleh Purdil, said the quake had knocked down several houses and killed women and children.

He and other officials have warned the death toll could increase as rescuers sift through rubble in the remote region.

Badghis in the north-west, borders Turkmenistan. It is considered one of Afghanistan's most undeveloped and poorest regions.