Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday sent a condolence message to his New Zealand counterpart John Key over the devastating earthquake that struck the country.

Wen, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

A 6.3-magnitude temblor Tuesday struck Christchurch, one of New Zealand's biggest cities, killing at least 75 people and leaving some 300 others unaccounted for in the rubble.