Sorrow expressed for quake losses in Turkey

President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday in response to the deaths of more than 100 people in an earthquake that struck the country in late October.

In the message, Xi noted that Turkey had suffered major casualties in the Aegean Sea earthquake on Oct 30. On behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, Xi expressed his sorrow for the loss of life and extended deep condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the injured.

Xi expressed his hope that the Turkish people would be able to overcome the disaster and resulting difficulties to rebuild their homes.

The earthquake that hit Turkey's west killed 114 people and injured 1,035 others in Izmir Province, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said, as rescuers finished searching collapsed buildings on Wednesday. Two people were reported to have died in the disaster in neighboring Greece.

Among the injured in Turkey, 137 were still receiving treatment in hospitals on Wednesday.