A number of European nations and international organizations rushed on Monday to provide aid for the Asian countries struck by a strong earthquake and following powerful tsunamis.

The United Nations announced that it will send in more aid to the victims of the devastating tsunamis.

Yvette Stevens, director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in a press release that the world body would launch an appeal in the coming days to fund aid to the affected regions.

In Sri Lanka, one of the worst-hit nations, the UN agency opened up its relief stockpiles for immediate emergency assistance to the Indian Ocean island, where thousands were killed, injured or displaced by the catastrophe.

The top relief official added that the situation was particularly challenging given that widespread disaster has occurred in several countries.

The World Bank will also redirect money from existing projects in the affected nations to provide immediate assistance for reconstruction.

An earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.7 according to the China Earthquake Administration, hit at 6:58 a.m. (0058 GMT) Sunday off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It was followed by tsunamis that swept across the coastal countries of the Indian Ocean rim Sunday, destroying villages, flooding cities and killing more than 23,700 people.

French President Jacques Chirac told Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on Monday that "all necessary means, in goods, humanitarian aid and medical aid, should be mobilized to meet the needs of the countries struck by the tidal waves."

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged that greater efforts should be made to predict natural disasters.

US disaster teams have rushed to the Asian countries while the US government is sending emergency aid package there, officials said Monday.

Washington has sent 100,000 US dollars each to India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and planned to donate 4 million dollars later Monday to help Red Cross disaster efforts, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

The initial US aid package being crafted was expected to reach 15 million dollars, officials said. Powell cautioned that it was a "quick infusion" and that the administration was prepared to help with long-term rebuilding.

US Agency for International Development groups have rushed to Thailand and Indonesia to make assessments and the team in Indonesia will go on to Sri Lanka, the officials said.

In addition, the US Navy has sent three P-3 surveillance aircraft from the Kadena air base on the Japanese island of Okinawa to Utaphao, Thailand, to conduct survey operations, including a possible role in search-and-rescue efforts.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told government leaders in quake-stricken Southeast Asia on Monday that his country was sending aid shipments to help with relief operations in the region.

Spain will also send 1 million euros (1.35 million US dollars) in aid to the victims of the tidal waves. For the devastated Sri Lanka, Spain will airlift 14 tons of food there on Tuesday.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer sent letters of condolences to the governments of the affected countries on Monday, saying his country was ready to help with relief operations in the region.

Portugal, Lithuania and Estonia also are prepared to send humanitarian relief to those countries.