The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 6 earthquake struck just before midnight local time in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan.

Homes made of mud and wood collapsed as helicopters were sent in to evacuate the injured.

There are reports that aftershocks were felt in neighbouring Pakistan and as far away as India.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of eight kilometres, was 27 kilometres from the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, according to the US Geological Survey.

A series of aftershocks followed throughout the night, including a powerful and shallow 5.2-magnitude quake just after 4 am local time.