Pope Francis prayed on Wednesday (Oct 28) for the victims of this week's earthquake which killed hundreds and left great damage in areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"We are close to the populations of Pakistan and Afghanistan, hit by a powerful earthquake that has killed many and great damage. Let's pray for the dead and for their relatives, for the wounded and for those who have lost their homes, imploring from God relief from suffering and courage in adversity,'' Pope Francis said at his weekly audience at the Vatican.

The 7.5 Richter scale magnitude earthquake on Oct 26 killed over 300 people, leaving 2,000 wounded and thousands homeless in the Hindukush mountains region of Afghanistan and Pakistan.