LUSAKA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- All Zambian soccer players plying their trade in Türkiye are safe following a strong earthquake that hit the country, the country's soccer governing body said Tuesday.

Adrian Kashala, the general secretary of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), said all players were safe because they were mostly dotted in areas away from the affected areas.

"Our thoughts are with the Turkish people and Syria following the tragic earthquake that hit the region. Our immediate reaction was to check with our players in that country and we have been able to establish that they are all safe," he said in a statement.

Zambia has four women national team players plying their trade in the Turkish league. They include Hazel Nali, Margaret Belemu, Misozi Zulu and Prisca Chilufya.

Kashala said that other women national team players, Martha Tembo, Hellen Chanda and Ireen Lungu, who play in Kazakhastan were also in Türkiye for pre-season with their club WFC BIIK-Shymkent.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria Monday, killing thousands of people.