The Associated Press reported an earthquake of this size is expected to cause severe damage in the remote area since homes and other buildings are poorly constructed and landslides are common.

Helicopters were deployed in the rescue effort to reach the injured and fly in medical supplies and food. Photos from social media show the houses and buildings that were turned into rubble after the quake shook the region. Other images show people being carried into helicopters to be airlifted from the area, while some people were being treated right at the scene.

Reuters wrote that rescue efforts will be a major test for the Taliban, who took over the country in August and have been cut off from international assistance because of sanctions. Some of those sanctions were on Afghanistan's banking sector and billions of dollars of developmental aid were cut.

Despite some of the sanctions, humanitarian aid has continued with international agencies such as the United Nations (U.N.).