After the major earthquake in Chile Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle today (27 February) issued the following statement:

”We were greatly shocked and concerned to learn of the major earthquake off the coast of Chile.

While the scale of the disaster is not yet clear, regrettably many people are likely to have been killed or injured.

On behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany I have conveyed our sincere condolences to the Chilean people.

Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathy are with those who have lost loved ones and those who have been injured.

The crisis unit at the Federal Foreign Office will meet already today to discuss the consequences of this disaster. A team from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief will leave for Chile this evening to assess the situation on the ground.“