Pope Francis on earthquakes in Middle East: "deep sadness for the enormous loss of life"

Pope Francis has joined the chorus of international voices mourning the tragic earthquakes that have devastated cities in Turkey and Syria. The magnitude of the first quake was almost 8 on the Richter scale.

In a telegram, the Pope said he was deeply saddened by the considerable loss of life. He asked for prayers for the victims and their families, the injured and the rescue teams working against the clock to try to free people from the rubble. 

The Turkish president described the situation as the biggest recorded earthquake in more than three decades.

PA
TR: KG