KABUL, Afghanistan?An earthquake devastated mountain villages in northern Afghanistan, where officials on Tuesday estimated at least 1,800 people died and thousands more were injured in a region already hard-hit by hunger, drought and war.

The military commander from the Baglan region said the Monday night quake collapsed 20,000 mud-brick houses. Gen. Haider Kahn estimated that trapped bodies could bring the death toll to 2,000.

Aid agencies said thousands were homeless, as aftershocks continued to jolt the Hindu Kush mountains above Kabul.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was relatively shallow?about 40 miles beneath the surface?meaning it had the power to cause more damage.

Officials in Kabul said the World Food Program was sending 175 tons of food. The United Nations and the European Commission was also rushing in aid.