Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry telephoned his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad to extend his condolences over the victims of the devastating earthquake which hit Syria on Monday, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

During the phone call, Shoukry posted his Syrian counterpart on the Egyptian government's decision to dispatch an urgent humanitarian aid to Syria in a bid to support it in facing the repercussions of such disaster, the spokesman added in a press release.

For his part, the Syrian foreign minister expressed his gratitude to Egypt's unwavering support to Syria in mitigating the impact of the earthquake.

The quake killed at least 461 people and left at least 1,326 more injured in government-controlled parts of Syria, including the provinces of Aleppo, Hama, Latakia and Tartus, according to the Syrian Health Ministry.

MENA