The Chinese government announced Monday it would donate US$1 million in humanitarian emergency aid to earthquake-devastated Chile, according to a spokesman for the Commerce Ministry, the China News Agency reported.

At least 708 people have been killed by Saturday's 8.8-magnitude quake and aftershocks near a Chilean coastal town, one of the world's biggest in a century, said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, as the government tried to get aid to hungry survivors and to halt looting.

Top leadership in China has expressed great concern and sympathy over the casualties and property losses suffered by the Chilean people, and is ready to supply additional humanitarian assistance and rescue efforts, Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2010)