Xi sends Widodo condolences over quake in Indonesia

President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence on Tuesday to Indonesian President Joko Widodo over major casualties caused by an earthquake in the Southeast Asian country.

Xi said in the message that he was shocked to learn about the disastrous earthquake in Indonesia, which resulted in many deaths and injuries and property losses.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned for the victims and extended his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the injured.

Xi said he is confident that under the leadership of the Indonesian president and government, the earthquake-hit people will prevail over the disaster and rebuild their homes.

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's West Java province on Monday, killing at least 268 people and damaging many houses, buildings and much of the infrastructure. The tremors were strongly felt in Jakarta, the capital.

The quake struck at 13:21 Jakarta time, and its epicenter was 10 kilometers southwest of the district of Cianjur in West Java, and at a depth of 10 km, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago and the home of more than 270 million people, is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location in the "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn