LONDON, Oct. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Foreign Secretary Jack Straw promised on Saturday that Britain would provide any help to Pakistan, which was devastated by a massive earthquake earlier of the day.

    "I am very distressed to learn about the effects of the earthquake in Pakistan this morning. My anxieties are all the greater because so many British people of Pakistani heritage come from the area affected or have relatives who live there," Straw said in a news release.

    "We are offering help to the Pakistani Government and are ready to respond to all requests," he added.

    Straw said that he had already spoken to his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri and promised Britain's help during this time of need.

    In an interview with the Sky news TV channel, Straw said Britain would send medical personnel and searching staff to Pakistan to help the rescue mission.

    The epicenter of the quake, of a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale, had been located about 80 kilometers northeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. More than 7,00 people had been so far confirmed dead in Pakistan and neighboring India and Afghanistan. Enditem