Brazilian president offers condolences to quake-hit Turkey

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff sent condolences to Turkey Monday over the loss of human lives and damage caused by a massive earthquake that killed 279 people and injured more than 1,300, the Foreign Ministry said. Rousseff also said Brazil is willing to cooperate with Turkey in providing emergency aid and rebuilding the area. In a statement released by the ministry, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota conveyed the Brazilian people's "most sincere condolences" over those killed by the quake. Patriota sent the president's message to his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu. The 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Sunday evening hit Turkey's Van region, in the eastern part of the country near the Iranian border, where some 380,000 people live.