(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-14 09:21

MOSCOW - Russia on Tuesday delivered its humanitarian aid to China where a devastating earthquake has claimed more than 12,000 lives in the southwest region.    

A cargo plane of the Emergency Ministry took off from Moscow Tuesday night, carrying 30 tons of aid to the quake-hit areas, Itar-Tass reported, citing ministry officials.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sent a message of solace to Chinese President Hu Jintao over the disastrous earthquake and offered humanitarian aid.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, rocked southwest China, especially the Sichuan Province, Monday afternoon.

The death toll from the earthquake has exceeded 12,000 and is still rising, according to the headquarters of the disaster relief.

Chinese rescuers, including thousands of troops, are dashing for the mountainous region where road were blocked by rocks to help the victims out of debris.