Pakistan FM expresses solidarity with Philippines after Mindanao earthquake

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday expressed condolences to the Philippines following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the southern island region of Mindanao that has killed at least 40 people so far.

In a post on X, Dar said he was "deeply saddened" by the devastating earthquake and extended his sympathies to the victims and their families.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured," Dar wrote.

He said Pakistan stood "in full solidarity with the Government and the people of the Philippines in this hour of grief and tragedy."

A series of powerful aftershocks rocked the area from about two hours after the first quake, while hundreds of tiny quakes followed, AFP reported.

Infrastructure damage, meanwhile, means some communities will be cut off for at least a week due to road closures and a collapsed bridge.

In hardest-hit Sarangani province, some areas remain accessible only by helicopter, and fears of aftershocks were slowing rescue efforts, local officials told reporters at a Tuesday briefing.