Putin says ready to help Syria with quake search and rescue effort

MOSCOW. Feb 6 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended condolences to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on the tragic consequences of an earthquake in northern parts of Syria and has expressed the readiness to help with the search and rescue effort.

"We share the pain and sorrow of those who have lost their nearest and dearest, we hope for a speedy recovery of everyone injured, and we stand ready to give the necessary assistance in eliminating the consequences of this natural calamity," Putin said in a telegram published on the Kremlin website.

A strong quake rocked eastern Turkey and neighboring Syria in the early hours of Monday. The quake occurred in the Turkish province of Gaziantep and was felt in several countries, according to the latest update.

It killed 284 people in Turkey and another 237 in Syria, based on the latest information. Thousands more were injured.