Earthquake destroys villages in eastern Afghanistan leaving at least 800 dead

Injured victims of an earthquake (Hedayat Shah/AP)

Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in search of missing loved ones after a strong earthquake killed at least 800 people and injured more than 2,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to figures provided by the Taliban government.

The 6.0 magnitude quake late on Sunday hit towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighbouring Nangarhar province, causing extensive damage.