Members of the Maldivian Democratic Party and the people of Maldives are profoundly saddened by the loss of lives, and great damages caused by the powerful earthquake that struck Nepal today, collapsing buildings, houses, centuries-old temples and triggering avalanches on Mt. Everest.

While the great number of nearly 1000 casualties are from Nepal, loss of lives of scores of people and damages to buildings and homes were reported in India, Tibet, Bangladesh and the Nepal-China border.

Our thoughts, commiserations and best wishes are with members of bereaved families, urging all possible effort by all concerned, for them to receive prompt and necessary assistance to overcome difficulties at this hour of extreme grief.