Eight soldiers from Chinese peacekeeping forces in Haiti were buried under the rubble after a powerful earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, China's State Council said in a statement.

More than 10 other peacekeepers were missing, according to a China Daily online report that quoted Liu Xiangyang, Deputy Chief of the National Earthquake Disaster Emergency Rescue Team.

A 7.3-magnitude quake hit the Caribbean island country at 4:53 p.m. local time Tuesday, collapsing numerous buildings, including the National Palace.

The earthquake may have caused thousands of deaths, said Karel Zelenka, a Catholic Relief Services representative in Port-au-Prince.

China's 60-strong rescue team departed for departed for quake-hit Haiti from the Beijing Capital International Airport at 20:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Center for Consular Assistance and Protection under the Chinese Foreign Ministry will provide a 24-hour consultation service for those in need.

The Red Cross Society of China has decided to donate one million U.S. dollars in emergency aid to quake-hit Haiti, according to a State Council statement.

Currently, there are 125 Chinese peacekeepers in Haiti, including six women.