TAIPEI - Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday expressed his concern over the deadly earthquake that jolted the mainland's Sichuan province, urging the island's mainland affairs authority to convey condolences to the earthquake survivors.

Taiwan's mainland affairs authority said the island will continue to follow the development of the disaster situation and is ready to offer any assistance if needed in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The earthquake, measured at a magnitude of 7.0, struck Lushan county of Ya'an city in Sichuan at 8:02 am local time. Death toll rose through the day, which reached 157 as of 9 pm, according to the China Earthquake Administration.