The toll from the earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has risen to 900, with more than 3,000 people injured, AP quoted an official as saying on Tuesday.

“The injured are being evacuated so these figures may change significantly,” a National Disaster Management Authority spokesperson warned.

A 6.0-magnitude quake struck on Sunday at 11.47 pm local time (12.45 am IST) near Jalalabad, close to the Pakistan border, at a depth of about 8 km. Shallow earthquakes tend to be more destructive.

Thirteen aftershocks have been reported since then, the World Health Organization said in a situation report.

The majority of the deaths were reported from the Kunar province, where entire villages were wiped out, Al Jazeera reported.

Rescue operations have been delayed as roadways remained damaged or blocked for more than 24 hours after the quake.

This is the third major earthquake to hit Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021, AP reported.

The Taliban government has appealed for international help.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday that New Delhi had delivered 1,000 family tents to Kabul and was transporting 15 tonnes of food supplies to Kunar, with more relief materials to be sent on Tuesday.

The United Kingdom has pledged $1.3 million in emergency funding that will be routed through humanitarian agencies rather than the Taliban, AP reported.

Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing would provide assistance “according to Afghanistan’s needs and within its capacity”, The Guardian reported.