President Hu Jintao on Wednesday sent a message of sympathy to US President George W. Bush over the loss of life and massive damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

In his message, Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and the people of China, expressed deep sympathy to Bush, the US government and US citizens.

Hu expressed the belief that the US will overcome the effects of the disaster and recover from it.

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) on Thursday donated US$100,000 to the American Red Cross (ARC) to help with the relief work.

The donation was received by David Sedney, the charge-de-affaires of the US embassy in China and head of the ARC visiting delegation.

RCSC vice president Jiang Yiman sent a message of sympathy to the president of ARC Marsha J. Evans on behalf of RCSC members and volunteers, according to the RCSC.

Katrina is one of the most severe hurricanes to have hit the US, and has so far caused US$25 billion in economic losses and affected the lives of some 5 million people.

The states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are reportedly the worst hit.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily September 2, 2005)