Irna-China-Quake
Minister of Health and Medical Science and Education Kamran Lankarani in a letter to his Chinese counterpart Chen Zhu on Wednesday voiced Iran's readiness to help Chinese quake-stricken people.

Lankarani, in his letter, offered sympathy to the Chinese people and government on the quack disaster.

He expressed condolences to the Chinese people over the killer quake.

Lankarani also expressed the sympathy of the Iranian nation and government as well as the staff of the Health Ministry to the Chinese quake-stricken people.

The worst earthquake to hit China in more 30 years has claimed the lives of nearly 9,000 people.

Schools, factories, houses and a hospital in the southwestern province of Sichuan have been destroyed and the number of victims is expected to further rise.

Close to the epicenter, around 80 percent of buildings are now in ruins.

The quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck around 100 kilometer north of the provincial capital, Chengdu, but tremors were felt as far away as Thailand and Vietnam.

The killer quake destroyed at least eight schools, burying hundreds of children. About 900 teenagers were trapped under the rubble of one 3-story building.

With thousands of homes destroyed or unsafe, many are spending the night on the streets.