UN chief condoles deaths in Nepal quake

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday condoled the deaths in Nepal after a major quake hit the Kathmandu Valley causing wide-scale destruction.

Ban, on behalf of the UN, conveyed the condolences in a specially issued statement. "Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal and neighbouring countries today in the aftermath of the earthquake that has struck the Kathmandu Valley," Xinhua quoted Ban as saying in the statement.

"The reports of the devastation are still coming in and the numbers of people killed, injured and affected by this earthquake continue to rise. It is clear that very many lives have been lost. There has also been significant damage to Nepal's irreplaceable cultural heritage."

According to Ban, the UN is supporting the government of Nepal in coordinating international search and rescue operations and is preparing to mount a major relief effort.

Over 1,500 people have been killed in the 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted large parts of Nepal, India, Bangladesh as well as Tibet on Saturday.