(MENAFN) Afghanistan's devastating earthquake casualty count has climbed to 500 fatalities, while over 1,000 people sustained injuries, according to Monday reports from a local broadcaster.

Emergency response crews are battling through isolated mountainous terrain hampered by communication blackouts as they work to gauge the disaster's complete scope and deliver critical assistance. Authorities emphasized the fatality figures remain provisional as search and rescue operations persist, the official outlet confirmed.

The powerful 6.0-magnitude tremor rocked Afghanistan's eastern provinces at 11:47 p.m. local time on Aug. 31, with seismic activity centered 27 kilometers from populated areas at a shallow eight-kilometer depth, data from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates.

The preliminary nature of casualty reports suggests the humanitarian crisis may deepen as rescue teams penetrate deeper into Afghanistan's rugged eastern territories, where damaged infrastructure continues impeding relief efforts.

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