Berlin   - The German government increased Friday its earthquake relief grant to China to 1.5 million euros (2.3 million dollars), saying the money would be sent via the Red Cross.

Earlier in the week Berlin had appropriated 500,000 euros for relief. The Foreign Ministry in Berlin said the tripled sum would buy relief materials for distribution by the Chinese Red Cross.

The federal government's volunteer civil-defence service, the THW, said Friday its earthquake expert had arrived the previous day at the German embassy in Beijing to advise on how German rescue teams might help recover the dead and injured from toppled Sichuan buildings.

Chinese rescue squads are already being assisted by teams from other nations. (dpa)