The EU pledged three million euros in immediate assistance as aid workers rushed to Chile after the second major earthquake struck the Western hemisphere in seven weeks.
EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso promised more help was ready if needed. "I am deeply shocked at the extent of the devastation that is emerging," Barroso said after the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake killed scores in Chile and sent a tsunami surging across the Pacific.
He said "as a first step" the Commission's humanitarian aid department would release the three million euros "to relieve suffering and meet the immediate needs".
Barroso said the bloc "stands ready to do whatever it takes to help the Chilean authorities at this time of need."
The British Red Cross released £50,000 from its disaster fund for Chile. "We anticipate the situation in the worst affected areas closer to the epicentre to be much more serious," said Pete Garratt, the British Red Cross disaster relief manager.
"Our fear is that this quake will have had large-scale impact."
UN chief Ban Ki-moon was "very closely monitoring developments, including the risk of Pacific Rim tsunamis, after the huge earthquake in Chile," his office said in a statement.
"The secretary-general expres-ses his condolences to those who have lost family and friends and wishes those injured a speedy recovery."
International aid charities said they were despatching experts to Chile but predicted that the devastation would be far lower than in Haiti where a January 12 quake killed 200,000 people.
"Chile is a developed country with a very capable government and while it is unlikely that this disaster will be as severe as what we saw last month in Haiti, we want to be in place to help as soon as possible," said Jeremy Loveless, Oxfam's deputy humanitarian director.
Disaster relief charity Shelter Box said it was mobilising an initial response team from Britain and the US.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "The people of Chile are in agony today but Britain stands ready to help. We will do whatever we can."
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Paris "in consultation with its EU partners is ready to respond to the Chilean demands for assistance". President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his "deep emotion" at the tragedy.
"We are closely monitoring the situation, including the potential for a tsunami," President Barack Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile, and we stand ready to help in this hour of need."
Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner also pledged assistance.
EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said she had activated a crisis monitoring unit and told aid experts "to undertake urgent needs assessments if required".
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said she would be "in close contact" with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and her successor Sebastian Pinera.
"This is the second time in a short period of time that the Americas are hit by a massive earthquake. We do not know yet the full impact of this disaster," Ashton said.