US President George W. Bush expressed his condolences on Sunday to the victims of the massiveearthquake and tidal waves that hit southern and southeast Asia.

"We extend our sincere condolences to all the people of the region at this time of suffering," said President Bush in a statement issued aboard Air Force One, where he was en route from Washington to his Texas ranch, the AP reported.

"The United States stands ready to offer all appropriate assistance to those nations most affected," the US president said.

The statement said U.S. relief efforts were already underway tohelp people in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, where tidal waves caused severe damage and loss of life.

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake, centered off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, caused massive tidal waves and more than 8,000 people were reported killed.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2004)