UN chief sends condolences to quake-hit victims in Nepal

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday sent his deepest condolences to the Government of Nepal and to everyone affected after a major quake hit the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal.

Ban, on behalf of the United Nations, conveyed the condolences in a specially issued statement Saturday.

"Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal and neighboring countries today in the aftermath of the earthquake that has struck the Kathmandu Valley," said Ban 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 United Nations is supporting the Government of Nepal in coordinating international search and rescue operations and is preparing to mount a major relief effort.

More than 900 people, including 256 in the capital of Kathmandu, have been killed in the 8.1-magnitude earthquake, which jolted large parts of Nepal, as well as eastern India and Bangladesh, China's Tibet Autonomous Region Saturday.