More than 800 people have been killed - and nearly 3,000 injured - after a magnitude-six earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan just before midnight on Sunday, the United Nations' humanitarian agency has said. Most of the deaths are in Kunar province, officials say, warning that the death toll may rise significantly as entire villages have been destroyed by the quake. The epicentre is in a remote mountainous area, making it difficult for rescue operations to be carried out. The scale of devastation is unimaginable, a Taliban official said. The disaster comes as Afghanistan reels from a severe drought, aid cuts and what the World Food Programme describes as an unprecedented crisis of hunger. The earthquake hit at 23:47 (19:47 GMT) on Sunday, some 27km (17 miles) east of Jalalabad - the country's fifth-largest city, in eastern Nangarhar province. Residents were awakened by the strong tremors and reported hearing terrifying sounds and experiencing a prolonged sense of fear. In the aftermath, hospitals have been overwhelmed with victims; one doctor mentioned that about 460 casualties were received shortly after the quake. Roads are inaccessible in many areas, restricting aid and rescue work, which relies heavily on air travel given the conditions. The Taliban government has since launched an appeal for humanitarian assistance as Afghanistan faces mounting challenges due to existing hunger and drought crises, further complicating recovery efforts.