Kabul, Sept. 1 -- A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Monday, killing at least 500 people and injuring more than 1,000, officials confirmed. The tremors, which originated near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, flattened homes and left scores of residents trapped under rubble.

Rescue teams rushed to the affected districts but were hampered by blocked roads and difficult terrain. Health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said the casualty figures are expected to rise as operations continue. "The number of casualties and injuries is high, but since the area is difficult to access, our teams are still on site," he said.

The quake hit early in the day, followed by an aftershock measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale at a de...