Pic Credit- TOLO News

As per reports from Afghanistan, a powerful earthquake stuck a rural mountainous region on Wednesday, killing 1,000 people and leaving more than 1,500 injured. Officials have warned that the already grim total is likely to increase.

Information remained scarce on the magnitude 6.1 temblor near the Pakistani border, but quakes of such strength is likely to cause severe damage in an area where homes and other buildings are poorly constructed and landslides are common.

This disaster poises a major test for the Taliban-led government, which seized power last year. Rescuers rushed to the scene via helicopters, but the response is likely to be complicated since many international aid agencies left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.