US President George W. Bush has expressed his condolences to the victims of the massive earthquake and tidal waves that hit southern and southeast Asia. The US president said the United States stands ready to offer all appropriate assistance to those nations most affected.

President Bush said this in a statement issued aboard Air Force One, where he was en route from Washington to his Texas ranch.

The statement said U.S. relief efforts were already underway to help people in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, where tidal waves caused severe damage and loss of life.

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake, centered off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, caused massive tidal waves and nearly 10,000 people were reported killed.