Australia will provide five million dollars (US$4.4 million) of aid to Chile after it was hit by a powerful earthquake.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith on Tuesday said the government would provide one million dollars (US$0.88 million) in emergency assistance funding, following a request by the Chilean ambassador.

Australia will donate supplies including portable generators to communities affected by Saturday's massive quake.

The government will also make an initial contribution of four million dollars (US$3.5 million) in reconstruction assistance, after a detailed needs assessment was carried out.

"We will coordinate our efforts with the Chilean authorities, the United Nations and other Latin American countries," Smith said in a statement.

He expressed Australia's condolences for the loss of life and devastation caused by the disaster to his Chilean counterpart Mariano Fernandez.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2010)