Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Sebastian Pinera, who took office as Chile's president on Thursday, and assured him that Russia is ready to continue assisting the quake-hit country, the Kremlin said.

"I would like to once again express deep condolences to the families of those killed, sympathy to all injured and confirm the readiness to keep providing the necessary aid to overcome the consequences of the earthquake," Medvedev's message said.

A devastating earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck near the coast of Chile on February 27, killing at least 497 people, according to official reports.

The quake was followed by a series of aftershocks and tsunamis leaving some 2 million Chileans homeless and damaging about 1.5 million houses.

Two Russian aircraft delivered over 56 tons of humanitarian aid to Chile on March 3 and 5.

MOSCOW, March 11 (RIA Novosti)