ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives as a result of a powerful earthquake that hit the southeastern part of Türkiye on Monday morning.
Reportedly, 2,000 people have been killed when the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at a depth of 17.9 kilometers (11 miles) near the Turkish City of Gaziantep.
“The Government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened to learn that a severe earthquake hit parts of Southern Türkiye earlier today, resulting in loss of precious lives and extensive damage to property,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
The statement said that the people of Pakistan stand in complete solidarity with our Turkish brethren in this hour of grief.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for early recovery of those injured,” the statement said.
“Pakistan stands ready to extend all possible support in the relief effort. We are confident that the resilient Turkish nation will overcome this natural calamity with characteristic grit and determination,” it added.
The Turkish Interior Minister Suleymon Soylu said that 10 Cities including Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Adana, Diyarbakir and Kilis were affected in the earthquake.
In the earthquake, over 3,200 buildings were collapsed and a number of people were trapped under the debris.
The media reports said that more than 850 people have also been killed in Türkiye’s neighbor Syria.
