A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan Friday, killing at least 12 people and damaging 33 homes, compounding the devastation from deadly floods that have claimed 77 lives this week. The disaster has destroyed nearly 800 homes and damaged over 2,600 others across eastern, central and southern provinces, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management.

Heavy rains triggered flash floods that swept away homes and severed roads, disconnecting large parts of the country. In Spin Boldak, Abdul Zahir reported that his uncle's mud brick house collapsed during the downpour, killing three cousins aged 8 to 14 and injuring six others. The floods have also disrupted transportation routes between southern and central provinces, driving up food prices in the central region.

Afghanistan faces multiple crises: a critical food shortage, the return of millions expelled from neighboring countries, and the aftermath of two deadly earthquakes last year. The country has lost $1.8 billion in aid following U.S. Agency for International Development cuts, while Pakistani-Afghan border clashes have intensified. As Zahir lamented, Afghans face threats from both conflict and natural disasters.