TEHRAN President Mohammad Khatami on Saturday sent separate condolence messages to President K.R. Narayanan and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on the fatal quake that hit western India on Friday morning.

President Khatami extended condolence to the Indian government, nation on the tragic event and sympathized with the families who lost their beloved ones in the disaster.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamidreza Assefi Saturday conveyed the sympathy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Indian government and nation over the strong earthquake.

Expressing condolences on behalf of the Iranian government and nation for the families of victims of the quake, Assefi expressed hope that those injured in the incident will recover soon.

According to the latest reports, more than 15,000 people have perished in the most powerful earthquake to rock this part of India in half a century. Tremors reached as far as Nepal, with authorities saying on Saturday the toll could climb further with thousands still trapped under rubble.

The 7.9-Richter quake which hit India on Friday morning toppled buildings in towns and cities across Gujarat, a prosperous industrial and agricultural state on India's west coast.

Worst hit was Bhuj, a coastal town near the Pakistan border of 150,000 people and about 20km from the epicenter of the quake.

In Pakistan, at least eight people were killed and many others injured in the southern province of Sindh.

(IRNA)