The President said he is deeply saddened by the tragic news of human casualties and injured people as a result of an avalanche in the Turkish province of Van.

“Sharing Your grief at this difficult moment, on behalf of all Kazakhstan people and on my own behalf, I express my deep condolences to You and the fraternal Turkish people. May the Almighty take the souls of the dead to paradise and give speedy healing to those injured,” the telegram says.

At least 38 people, many of them rescuers, have been killed and dozens are feared trapped after two avalanches near Turkey's eastern border with Iran.