Kabul: Helicopter teams are spearheading search and rescue operations in eastern Afghanistan after a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the remote and mountainous Kunar province on Sunday, leaving more than 800 people dead and hundreds more feared trapped beneath the rubble.

With roads blocked by debris and landslides, air operations have become critical in reaching isolated villages that bore the brunt of the quake, which struck at a shallow depth of just 8km (5 miles) — intensifying its destructive power.

The United Nations’ humanitarian agency confirmed the death toll and warned it may rise further as search teams expand operations. Entire villages have reportedly been flattened, and survivors remain in urgent need of food, shelter, and medical aid.

UN teams are preparing hot meals and distributing blankets, according to the agency’s lead coordinator in Afghanistan, who spoke to the BBC. The Taliban government has issued an international appeal for assistance, with the UK announcing £1 million in relief funding. British officials emphasized that none of the aid would go directly to the Taliban.

Rescue operations on Monday focused on four villages in Kunar, said Ehsanullah Ehsan, the province’s disaster management chief, in a statement to Reuters. “We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble. Our effort is to complete these operations as soon as possible and to begin distributing aid to the affected families.”

Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear blocked roads, but the difficult terrain continues to hamper relief efforts. The quake’s tremors were felt as far away as Kabul and Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

As aftershocks continue to rattle the region, humanitarian organizations are warning of worsening conditions for displaced families, many of whom are sleeping outdoors in near-freezing temperatures.

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