MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has extended his condolences to his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, following the devastating earthquake, which has claimed numerous lives, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday.

"On February 6, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered condolences to Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad over the consequences of the earthquake in Syria,which claimed numerous lives and incurred serious material damage," the ministry said.

"The minister extended the words of support to the families of those killed and wishes of the soonest recovery to those injured," it said. "He also reiterated Russia’s readiness to assist in eliminating the consequences of the tragedy the friendly Syrian people in suffering from."

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocked Turkey’s southeastern Kahramanmaras province on Monday morning, killing more than 1,500 people in that country. More than 430 people have been killed and more than 1,500 have been injured in neighboring Syria. Another magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook Turkey later on Monday.

Many countries, including Russia, have offered their help to Ankara and Damascus following the quake. Russia’s emergencies ministry said earlier it is ready to send two Il-76 planes with rescuers to Turkey.