President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov today sent deep condolences to President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in connection with the earthquake that occurred in the East of the country and caused human casualties, injuries and large-scale destruction, the press service of the head of state reported.

On behalf of the people and Government of Turkmenistan, as well as on his own behalf, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov conveyed words of deep empathy and support to the families, relatives and friends of the victims at this difficult time, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to the victims.

An earthquake in Eastern Turkey killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000, Euronews reports. 

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters that 22 more people may be trapped under the rubble.

Tremors with a force of 6.8 on the Richter scale were registered on Friday evening in the province of Elazig, where about 400,000 people live. Neighboring Malatya was also affected. Dozens of homes were destroyed in both provinces. Hundreds of people were left homeless. Echoes of the earthquake were felt in other regions of Turkey, as well as in Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Iraq and Syria. Dozens of people were trapped in destroyed buildings.