Vatican: Pope Francis on Thursday offered his prayers for the victims and families of the earthquake which hit Indonesia on Wednesday.

The 6.5 magnitude quake mostly affected the Aceh Province on the island of Sumatra, and over 100 people were killed in the disaster.

“I wish to assure you of my prayers for the victims and their families, for the injured and for those who have lost their homes,” – Pope Francis said during his Angelus address – “May the Lord give strength to the population and support the rescue efforts.”

The same region of Indonesia was hit by the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami , which killed over 100,000 people in the province.

 

(source: Vatican Radio)