BERLIN, Oct. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Germany offered aid to victims of strong earthquake hitting Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh Saturday morning, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said here Saturday.

    He noted that the German government immediately released 50,000euros (60,500 US dollars) to be made available to Pakistani authorities through Berlin's embassy in Islamabad.

    The German Red Cross will be working with the Pakistani Red Crescent to bring relief to quake-hit areas, and Berlin is in contact with the United Nations with regard to further humanitarian action, Fischer said, adding that German officials were also in touch with counterparts in Pakistan and India to discuss rapid aid.

    At the same time, German aid organizations appealed for donations.

    Catholic aid organization Caritas said its workers had begun rescuing victims while other groups were ready to dispatch teams to the region.

    Strong earthquake measuring at least 7.6 on the Richter scale hit South Asia Saturday morning, killing at least 1,800 people. Officials warned the final casualties could be much higher.

    Its epicenter was located in Kashmir, the Himalayan territory disputed between Indian and Pakistan. Enditem