... ESO, the European Southern Observatory . ... The earthquake has caused significant casualties and damage in the country. ESO expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and its sympathy and support for all those affected by the earthquake. ... Despite being the 7th strongest earthquake ever recorded worldwide, the ESO observatory sites did not suffer any damage, partly as they are engineered to withstand seismic activity and partly due to their distances from the epicentre. ...