Desperation and heartbreak in eastern Afghanistan, where a powerful earthquake has left entire communities in ruins.

The government said more than 1,400 people are dead, with thousands more injured. Many victims were trapped in their homes as the quake struck overnight.

We spoke with a scientist who specializes in earthquakes.

William Barnhart is with the U.S. Geological Survey. His team reports on destructive earthquakes around the world.

While 6.0 magnitude quakes aren't rare, he said, it's the region's vulnerable buildings and the timing—while families were asleep—that turned this disaster into a deadly tragedy.