President McAleese today contacted the Chinese ambassador to express her sympathy on behalf of the Irish people to the Chinese president and people over the earthquake in Sichuan province.
Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross John Roycroft also expressed the sympathy of the Irish Red Cross and praised the volunteers of the Chinese Red Cross who are working in the earthquake zone.
“We are willing to help in China in any and every way possible,” he said.
The death toll in yesterday's earthquake in China is now at least 12,000, according to the latest official reports.
Some 18,645 people are buried under rubble in Mianyang district alone, state media said today.
Heavy rainfall and wrecked roads hampered efforts to reach areas hardest-hit by China's worst earthquake in 30 years.
State media reports indicated that the number of dead from the 7.9 magnitude quake was likely to soar.