Xi sends condolences to Iranian counterpart over massive earthquake

VIENTIANE - President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent condolences to his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, over a massive earthquake in Iran which left at least 445 people dead and over 7,100 others injured.

In his message, Xi said that he was shocked at the strong earthquake that caused heavy causalities and property loss in Iran.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and people, as well as in my own name, I offer my deep condolences to the victims of the powerful earthquake, and offer my sincere sympathies to those injured and the families of the victims," Xi said.

"I believe that the Iranian people, under the leadership of you and your government, will surely overcome this difficulty and combat the disaster. The Chinese people stand firmly with the Iranian people during this difficult time," he noted.

The 7.3-magnitude tremor struck an area along the Iran-Iraq border on Sunday with its epicenter located approximately 32 km south of the city of Halabja in eastern Iraq, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).