(Seychelles News Agency) - Rescuers in Pakistan and Afghanistan are working to provide food and shelter and to reach more stranded victims of the 7.5 magnitude quake that hit the region, while there are fears the death toll will continue to rise.

Confirmed numbers following Monday’s disaster puts the death toll at above 360, with at least 248 people killed in Pakistan and some 115 confirmed dead in Afghanistan.

Thousands of people have also been injured and thousands of homes destroyed.

Nevertheless, officials of both countries are predicting that the death toll will continue to rise as rescue efforts continue.

According to an article published by the AFP, rescuers and the Pakistan military are now in a race against time to reach victims that are stuck in remote regions experiencing freezing weather conditions.

There are fears that the cold weather conditions may claim more lives.

“Aid workers also fear the unstable security situation in quake-stricken areas in Afghanistan, many of which are effectively controlled by the Taliban, could hamper relief efforts despite a pledge from the insurgents they would help deliver aid,” reads the AFP report.

According to a press statement issued by the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the island nation’s President James Michel has sent a message of condolences to the Presidents of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Manmoon Hussain and Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, respectively.

"This natural disaster will not break the spirit of your people, they will find the strength to rebuild their lives. Rest assured that the people of Seychelles stand with you in these trying times," said Michel in his message to the Pakistani President.

Michel has also conveyed sympathy towards the people of Afghanistan who have been affected by the natural disaster expressing hope that the survivors make a speedy recovery.  

Earthquakes are common occurrences in the region surrounding Afghanistan and Pakistan, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

A total of 75 thousand people were killed in 2005 when a magnitude-7.6 quake hit the Pakistan-administered Kashmir region.