Most of the deaths occurred in Kunar province, officials say, warning that the death toll may rise significantly as entire villages have been destroyed.
The epicentre was in a remote mountainous area, making it difficult for rescue operations to be carried out. "The scale of devastation is unimaginable," a Taliban official said.
The disaster comes as Afghanistan reels from a severe drought, aid cuts and what the World Food Programme describes as an unprecedented hunger crisis.
