Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi express grief over deaths due to earthquake in Turkey, Syria

"We are deeply saddened by the huge loss of life and property by the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims," Kharge tweeted.

In this hour of grief, every Indian stands with the affected people from both countries, he added.

The Congress MP from Wayanad also took to Twitter and wrote: "Anguished by the news of lives lost in the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. My thoughts are with families of those who have lost their loved ones."

Gandhi said the 'global community ' must come together to ensure swift relief to the affected region.

At least 2,300 people have been killed in three powerful earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in nearly a century, sparking frantic rescue operations.

A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Türkiye's southern province of Kahramanmaras at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT).

It was followed by a magnitude-6.4 quake a few minutes later in the country's southern province of Gaziantep and a magnitude-7.6 earthquake at 1:24 p.m. local time (1024 GMT) in the Kahramanmaras Province.

At least 78 aftershocks were recorded, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay has said. The quakes were also felt in Lebanon, Israel and Cyprus.

The quake hit the provinces of Malatya, Şanlıurfa, Osmaniye and Diyarbakır, although the toll threatened to climb much higher because of the heavy damage.

The first earthquake was followed by two more earthquakes.