The death toll from an earthquake in Afghanistan has surpassed 1,000, CNN reported.

Most of the deaths were in Paktika province, in the districts of Giyan, Nika, Barmal and Zirok, according to the State Ministry for Disaster Management.

The death toll stands at more than 1,000 and at least 1,500 people have been injured "in Gayan and Barmal districts of Paktika province alone," Mohammad Amin Hozaifa, head of Paktika province's information and culture department, told CNN in a phone call Wednesday.

He said the death toll is expected to rise as the search continues.

In neighboring Khost province, 25 people were killed and several others were injured, and five people were killed in Nangarhar province, the disaster management authority said.

The epicenter of the quake was about 44 kilometers from Khost city in southeastern Afghanistan.

The tremors were felt more than 500 kilometers from the country's border, including in Pakistan and India. According to American seismologists, the earthquake was also felt in the Afghan capital Kabul and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

It should be added that the earthquake with magnitude 5.3 has also been registered in Iran at night time. Scientists said the epicenter was located 59 km southeast of Mohr.