The death toll in Afghanistan has reached one thousand while hundreds more are injured after a powerful earthquake struck a remote border region of the country. It is the deadliest earthquake to strike Afghanistan two decades.

Images show landslides and ruined mud-brick homes in eastern Paktika province, where rescuers are rushing to treat the injured. Mobile phone towers have been damaged affecting the communication.

Taliban officials have called for aid agencies to rush to the affected areas in the Nation’s east. According to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, hundreds of houses have been destroyed and the death toll is expected to rise.

The head of information for Paktika province, Mohammad Amin Hazifi while informing about deaths and injuries said that rescue teams are still searching for others buried under the ground. The Taliban has requested international assistance.

“The de facto authorities [Taliban] reached out early this morning asking the UN family here in Afghanistan to support them in terms of assessing the needs and responding to those affected,” Sam Mort from Unicef’s Kabul unit said.

The UK’s special representative in afghanistan,Nigel Casey stated that the UK was in contact with the UN and was “ready to contribute to the international response.”

Tremors were felt over a distance of more than 500 kilometers in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Witnesses reported feeling the quake in Kabul and Islamabad. However, there have been no immediate reports of casualties ot significant damages in Pakistan.