The human rights activist and Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman expressed her solidarity with the Turkish and Syrian peoples after a powerful earthquake today struck the two countries,

calling on governments and relevant organizations to provide the necessary assistance to those affected.

“It is with enormous sadness and regret that I received news of an earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria, which has led to the death and injury of hundreds of Turkish and Syrian citizens” wrote Tawakkol Karman on Twitter.

Karman added: “I express my solidarity with the Turkish and Syrian peoples who are facing this catastrophe with patience and determination to overcome its devastating effects.”

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey and Syria early Monday, extending to the areas in northern and eastern Lebanon, and its aftershocks spread to the eastern Mediterranean region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described this earthquake as "the largest disaster the country has experienced since 1939," explaining that the total number of earthquake victims rose to 912 dead and 5,383 injured.

On the Syrian side, 592 people have been killed and hundreds injured so far as a result of this natural disaster, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health and rescue teams.