Teresa and I join the people of the United States in expressing our deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life resulting from the earthquake today in Ecuador.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected.

We applaud the courage and skill of the first responders and of the talented Ecuadorian medical professionals, who are working so hard to find survivors and save lives.

We remain in close contact with Ecuadorian authorities and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

We stand by the people of Ecuador in this difficult time and are ready to assist in any way we can.