Afghanistan earthquake is deadliest in decades

The United States offered its “heartfelt condolences” to those impacted by Wednesday’s devastating earthquake in Afghanistan.

“We are deeply saddened by reports of an earthquake in eastern Afghanistan,” the Twitter account for the US Embassy in Kabul posted Wednesday.

The US has no presence in Afghanistan following the full withdrawal of US troops and collapse of the Afghan government, and its embassy is currently operating out of Qatar. It does not have official relations with the Taliban government.

CNN has asked the US State Department whether it intends to provide aid in response to the natural disaster which has killed more than 900 people.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his condolences and an offer of support in a tweet on Wednesday.

India expressed “sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families,” according to a tweet by the spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday.

The Embassy of Iran in Kabul said it was sending two planes with first aid supplies to Afghanistan.

The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, said he “grieves” over the deaths caused by the earthquake, according to a tweet from the Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan. “Afg is a friendly neighbor of China, and China is willing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance according to Afg needs,” the embassy tweeted.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said the Turkish Red Crescent, a humanitarian organization, “which has been operating in Afghanistan, has dispatched humanitarian aid for the earthquake victims in the region.”

Pope Francis said he was praying “for those who have lost their lives and for their families.”

“I hope aid can be sent there to help all the suffering of the dear people of Afghanistan,” the Pope said.

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also called on international charities and organizations to help the families affected by the quake.