China on Wednesday expressed its sympathy to Haiti over the strong earthquake that toppled many buildings and buried at least hundreds of people under the rubble.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide emergency aid for Haiti, and the Chinese International Rescue Team will leave for Haiti as soon as possible to conduct rescue operation.

The Center for Consular Assistance and Protection under the Foreign Ministry will provide 24-hour consultation service.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Tuesday local time, collapsing a hospital and damaging government buildings in its capital city of Port-au-Prince.