The Turkish Red Crescent aid society on Thursday sent an assistance team to China after a powerful earthquake hit China's southern Qinghai Province earlier Wednesday.

"As the Turkish Red Crescent, we have informed Chinese authorities that we are ready to extend all possible assistance to provide relief to the survivors of the Chinese earthquake," the Turkish Red Crescent said in a written press release.

"We have sent a team of experts to China to determine the exact list of assistance needed," added the Turkish Red Crescent.

The 7.1-magnitude quake struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai Province early Wednesday, leaving at least 617 dead, 9,110 injured and hundreds missing.

The strong quake and a string of aftershocks, with the biggest one being 6.3 magnitude, toppled houses, temples, gas stations and electric poles, triggered landslides, damaged roads, cut power supplies and disrupted telecommunications, according to local reports.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2010)