The Taliban said Monday that at least 800 people have been killed and 2,500 others injured after a powerful overnight earthquake struck several eastern provinces.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the majority of the victims were in Kunar province. In Nangarhar, 12 people were confirmed dead and 255 others wounded, he said. Another 64 people were injured in Laghman and Nuristan provinces. In neighbouring Panjshir, five houses were destroyed, though no casualties were reported.

Mujahid warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams gain access to remote areas. Entire villages in Kunar have been flattened, he said, and updated figures are still coming in.

The Taliban leadership has ordered government agencies to rush aid to affected areas, mobilising resources for burials and medical treatment. Mujahid also urged international relief organisations to help respond to what he called a “major humanitarian crisis.”