From the White House: Statement by the President on the Earthquake in Turkey

The White House released this statement from the President earlier today:

We have been following reports of the earthquake in Turkey's eastern province of Van with great concern. On behalf of the American people, I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave men and women who are working to bring assistance to this stricken region. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Turkish ally in this difficult time, and are ready to assist the Turkish authorities.

In addition to the President's statement, we also pass along our thoughts and prayers to the disaster survivors and to the families of those who have lost loved ones. As with all international emergencies, the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development are the lead agencies for coordinating with impacted countries and we'll continue to work closely with them as they monitor the situation and offer assistance.

For additional updates from the U.S. Department of State, you can follow their Twitter and Facebook pages:

On Twitter: @StateDept, @TravelGov & @USEmbassyTurkey

On Facebook: U.S. Dept. of State & U.S. Embassy Ankara, Turkey

The earthquake is also a reminder that disasters can happen at any time, so for people in the United States, now is a good time to put together a family plan and get an emergency kit. Visit Ready.gov/earthquakes and share the link with friends and family.