VIENNA -- From papal prayers to telegrams from China, the world reacted with an outpouring of compassion yesterday for the hurricane's victims in messages tinged by shock that a disaster of this scale could occur in the United States.
The storm was seen as an equalizer -- evidence that any country, weak or strong, can be victimized by a natural disaster. Images of flood-ravaged New Orleans earned particular sympathy in central Europe, where dozens died in raging floodwaters only days ago.
''Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it," says Danut Afasei, a local official in Romania's Harghita County, where flooding killed 13 people last week.
Throughout Europe, concerned citizens lamented the loss of life and the damage caused to New Orleans, often described as one of North America's most ''European" cities.
President Jacques Chirac of France and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany sent messages of sympathy to President Bush.
Chirac, who has quarreled with Bush over the Iraq war, addressed his letter ''Dear George."
Pope Benedict XVI said he was praying for victims of the ''tragic" hurricane, while President Hu Jintao of China expressed his ''belief that the American people will definitely overcome the natural disaster and rebuild their beautiful homeland."
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II also sent a message to Bush saying she was ''deeply shocked and saddened" at the devastation caused by the hurricane and expressing her condolences, ''especially to the families of those who have lost their lives, to the injured, and to all who have been affected by this terrible disaster."
The US Embassy in Bern, Switzerland -- a capital at the foot of the Alps hit by flooding last week -- said calls were rushing in from Swiss citizens and institutions looking for a way to donate to relief efforts.
''We are getting calls from the Swiss public looking to express their condolences [and] people are also asking for an account number where they can make donations," embassy spokesman Daniel Wendell said.
The Internet-edition Vienna daily Der Standard had recorded 820 postings commenting on a front-page story on the hurricane.
In one of the postings, signature ''Emerald" asked where money could be donated to the victims, but the question sparked a debate about whether a rich country like the United States needed such aid.
In response, one posting, from signature ''far out," argued that hurricane victims who are poor still needed support.
Venezuela's government, which has had tense relations with Washington, offered humanitarian aid and fuel if requested.
Amid the sympathy, however, there was criticism.
