Residents search for victims after the earthquake in Port-au-Prince. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

Ontario is prepared to pitch in to help Haiti's efforts to recover from a devastating earthquake that has likely killed thousands of people, Premier Dalton McGuinty said.

He said the province will offer help in reconstruction efforts, such as restoring electricity, and health care.

"We have some expertise in a number of those areas — we've helped different parts of the world before. And we feel a sense of responsibility here — especially because of the diversity of our population," said McGuinty.

Tuesday's magnitude 7.0 quake in Haiti was the strongest to hit the poor Caribbean country in more than 200 years.

The quake crushed thousands of buildings, from schools and shacks to the National Palace and the United Nations peacekeeping headquarters.

There are predictions that the quake's death toll, which may include the head of the UN peacekeeping mission, will likely run into the thousands.