UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday said that he "is deeply saddened by the loss of life, injuries and destruction caused by the earthquake and aftershocks" that struck Sichuan Province in southwest China Saturday.

"The secretary-general extends his sincere condolences to the Chinese government and people," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman. "He expresses his deepest sympathies in particular to those who have lost loved ones or been otherwise affected by this disaster."

"The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance and to mobilize any international support that may be needed," the statement said.

Death toll has risen to 186 in the 7.0-magnitude quake earthquake which jolted Lushan County of Sichuan's Ya'an City at 8: 02 a.m. Saturday Beijing Time, according to latest statistics gathered on Sunday by the provincial emergency response command center.

Twenty-one people are reported missing, and 11,393 others have been injured, according to the command center.

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