On 16 April 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the northern coast of Ecuador. The most powerful earthquake in the country since 1949 caused widespread devastation, killed at least 655 people and injured over 17 500. Almost 30 000 people are in need of emergency shelters.

The most affected areas are Pedernales, Muisne, San Vicente, Manta and Portoviejo, bordering Ecuador’s Pacific coast.

The EU immediately mobilised resources to support local rescue and relief efforts. A team of humanitarian experts from the European Commission reached the affected areas to assess the most pressing needs. €1 million was rapidly released to support emergency assistance on the ground.

In the aftermath of the quake EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said "our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends and all those affected. The European Union stands in full solidarity with the people and authorities of Ecuador at this difficult time." 

The EU also activated its Civil Protection Mechanism – at the request of Ecuador’s government – to dispatch search and rescue teams from France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom to the affected areas. Civil protection experts and engineers from Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom were deployed in Quito, Ecuador to help with relief effort.