An Afghan man sits near his house that was destroyed during an earthquake in Khost province on Wednesday. The 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, killing at least 1,000 people and wounding more than 1,500. Photo: VCG

A woman covers herself with a blanket after the deadliest earthquake in Afghanistan for two decades struck eastern border provinces on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Afghan boys sit near the ruins of their house in Khost province, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Locals look at the destruction caused by the earthquake in Paktika province, eastern Afghanistan, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Afghan children stand near a house in Khost province that was destroyed by the earthquake, on Wednesday. The epicenter was 44 kilometers southwest of Khost. Photo: VCG

An man stands amid debris in Gayan village in Paktia province, Afghanistan, on Thursday. Photo: IC Photo

An Afghan villager collects his belongings from the rubble of his destroyed home in the Spera district of the southwestern part of Khost province, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Wounded are evacuated in Paktika province on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Taliban fighters secure a government helicopter to evacuate injured people in Gayan district, Paktika province, on Wednesday. Those injured in the earthquake were transferred to hospitals in central Paktika and surrounding provinces by helicopters and ambulances. Photo: VCG

Search and rescue operations were run in Paktika province on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Injured victims of the earthquake receive treatment at a hospital in Paktia province on Wednesday. Photo: IC Photo

A child is treated inside a hospital in the city of Sharan, Paktika province, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Afghans queue up in a line to donate blood for the earthquake victims being treated at a hospital in the city of Sharan, nearby Gayan district, one of the worst hit areas in Paktika province, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

An 800-year-old minaret considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Afghanistan was damaged by two earthquakes this week and is in danger of collapse. Photo: VCG