BEIJING - China on Monday expressed deep condolences for earthquake-hit Turkey and said it is ready to provide assistance.

The Chinese government and people are deeply saddened by the heavy casualties and loss of property from the massive earthquake in eastern Turkey, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu at a press briefing Monday afternoon.

Jiang said Premier Wen Jiabao has sent a telegram of condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Turkey's Van province on Sunday led to a death of at least 217 people and injured more than 1,000, Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin said Monday.