A 7.3 earthquake struck Haiti just 10 miles from Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital city. According to CNN, the earthquake knocked down buildings and inflicted “a catastrophe on the impoverished Caribbean nation.” NBC’s Brian Williams reports that it’s the largest earthquake ever to hit that region of the world.

Karel Zelenka, a Catholic Relief Services representative in the capital of Port-au-Prince, told US colleagues before phone service failed that “there must be thousands of people dead,” according to a spokeswoman for the aid group, Sara Fajardo.

President Barack Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with the people of Haiti and that the United States stands ready to help the island nation.