In the early hours of February 27 local time, a powerful earthquake struck central and southern areas of Chile, inflicting casualties and huge property loss. The Chinese Government and people express deep concern and sympathy over the disaster. President Hu Jingtao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi sent messages of condolence to Chilean President Bachelet and Foreign Minister Fernandez respectively. China is ready to provide Chile with emergency relief. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Embassy in Chile immediately launched the emergency mechanism and checked the situation of the affected Chinese nationals and institutions there through various channels. No Chinese casualty has been reported so far. Centre for Consular Assistance and Protection of the Foreign Ministry has opened two 24-hour hotlines for counsel and has already received hundreds of phone calls from families of Chinese nationals in Chile.