Erdogan urge support for quake hit Albania

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called on the Islamic world to support Albania to help it recover from the destruction of a deadly earthquake.

Speaking at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, Erdogan said it should be a duty for the organization to launch a conference of donors for Albania.

"We have to stand together with Albania for both the treatment of the injured people and the accommodation of our brothers whose homes have been destroyed or damaged," he remarked.

Erdogan said 26 people were killed and 600 others injured in the tremor that hit Albania the previous day, citing the phone conversation he had with Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama on Tuesday night.

The Turkish leader stated that his country sent military cargo planes and rescue teams to Albania while the Turkish aid convoys are expected to reach the disaster areas later in the day.

The earthquake, measuring 6.4 magnitude on the Richter scale, reportedly caused extensive damage in the western port city of Durres and the town of Thumane.