At least 26 dead in Afghanistan earthquake, reports say

Kabul Afghanistan January 18, ANI - At least 26 people have been killed after an earthquake in western Afghanistan, media reports said.

After the 5.3 magnitude earthquake on Monday, hundreds of homes were damaged in western Badghis province, bordering Turkmenistan, according to Al Jazeera.

A provincial spokesman told news agencies that the victims died when roofs of their houses collapsed in the Qadis district of the province.

The spokesperson said that 26 people were killed in the earthquake, including five women and four children.

Media reports said the second quake of magnitude 4.9 hit the region two hours after the first.

More than 700 houses have been damaged, according to a senior official of the Ministry of State for Emergency Affairs.