U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday that the United States stands ready to support the international response to the disaster in southwest China's Sichuan Province, where a strong earthquake caused massive casualties and damages.

"I join the American people in expressing our sincere condolences for the loss of life and devastation wrought by today' s earthquake in Sichuan Province," Kerry said in a statement issued by the State Department.

"To those affected by this tragedy and to all the people of China, we send our heartfelt sympathies," Kerry added.

A 7-magnitude earthquake hit Lushan county, Ya'an city of Sichuan Province, at 8:02 a.m. Saturday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. A total of 160 people were killed and 6,700 injured in the powerful earthquake as of 0:40 a.m. Beijing Time Sunday, according to the authorities.

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