At least 21 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured in a powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey in the evening of January 24. The 6.8 magnitude quake, centered on the town of Sivrice in Elazig province, caused buildings to collapse and sent residents rushing into the street. President Igor Dodon transmitted a message of condolence to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, IPN reports, with reference to the presidential press service.

“In these moments of suffering, in my name and in the name of the people of the Republic of Moldova, I offer sincere condolences to the grieving families. We are near the citizens of the Republic of Turkey and wish speedy recovery to those hurt in the natural disaster,” reads the message.

According to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (Afad), there were more than 100 aftershocks recorded after the earthquake. Afad said that 17 people had died in Elazig province, while the official count in Malatya is four. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that all the measures are being taken to help those affected. “We are near our people,” he wrote.