A devastating earthquake in Afghanistan's east has destroyed homes, generations and livelihoods. Survivors are too fearful to return to the mountains of Kunar Province, where remote and rugged terrain has defied rescue and relief efforts by Taliban authorities and aid agencies. The death toll from Sunday night's disaster exceeds 2,000, although this figure could rise as more bodies are recovered from villages that were razed to the ground and are now piles of rubble. The U.N. estimates that the quake has affected up to 500,000 people across several provinces.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (AP) —

A Taliban government spokesman says the death toll from a major earthquake in Afghanistan has risen to 2,205. The shallow, magnitude-6.0 quake struck the mountainous and remote eastern part of the country late Sunday, leveling villages and trapping people under rubble. Most of the casualties have been in Kunar province, where people typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep river valleys separated by high mountains.. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but rough terrain and funding cuts are hindering relief. The Norwegian Refugee Council says it has significantly fewer resources than during previous earthquakes. Afghanistan has already been facing drought, a weak economy, and the recent return of some 2 million refugees.

Death toll from Afghan earthquake jumps to 2,205, the Taliban says.

The Taliban say a major earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed over 1,400 people and injured more than 3,000. The United Nations warns of a potential rise in casualties. The earthquake struck Sunday night, flattening villages and trapping people under rubble. Rough terrain is hampering rescue efforts, with commandos air-dropped to evacuate the injured. The Taliban have appealed for international assistance, but aid is limited due to global crises and reduced budgets. Many health facilities have closed due to funding cuts, overwhelming the remaining ones. Authorities have set up camps and centers to coordinate aid and rescue efforts.