A number of countries and international organizations on Wednesday extended their condolences to China over a strong earthquake that hit its northwestern province of Qinghai and killed 589 people.

In a message sent to Chinese President Hu Jintao, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak expressed on behalf of the people of his country and himself deep condolences to the victims and sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured.

Meanwhile, Japan, Germany, Israel, Turkey, Venezuela and the European Union have also expressed their condolences to China via different ways.

A total of 589 people have died and 10,000 others were injured in the 7.1-magnitude earthquake which hit Qinghai Province early Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2010)