Hundreds of people are feared to be dead and entire villages have been buried below rubble after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Afghanistan.

The quake, which initially hit shortly after 7pm on Sunday evening UK time, has seen its estimated death toll rise over the night into Monday morning.

With the Taliban in charge of the country, accurate casualty figures are few and far between - while the region struck hardest is isolated and mountainous.

Images and videos from Afghanistan show rescuers boarding helicopters from airfields, as well as people in stretchers being brought to hospitals.

The earthquake has levelled basic mud and stone homes in the area, which sits just over the border from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Between the Afghan provinces of Laghman and Nangarhar, some 330 people have been injured.

Images and videos from Afghanistan show workers boarding helicopters from airfields and bringing quake victims to hospitals

PICTURED: People carry an earthquake victim on a stretcher to an ambulance at an airport in Jalalabad, Afghanistan

"The number of casualties and injuries is high, but since the area is difficult to access, our teams are still on site," Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said.

He continued: "Unconfirmed reports indicate that nearly 30 people from one village have been killed, but so far there are no exact figures regarding the casualties.

Three villages were "completely destroyed and suffered heavy damage".

"Some of the injured have been evacuated, and victims trapped under collapsed houses have been recovered," Mr Zaman said, and said search and rescue teams are ongoing.

"The numbers of the injured and the dead are likely higher, but since the area has limited access and communication, our teams are still on the ground. Once accurate figures are collected, God willing, we will share them with you," he said.

The Taliban has since pleaded with international aid organisations to help the rescue effort.