The European Commission, the European Union's executive arm, is providing 3 million euros (4.37 million U.S. dollars) to meet initial humanitarian needs of victims after powerful earthquakes hit Indonesia.

A rapid response team from the commission's humanitarian aid department office of Jakarta has been sent to Padang, the epicenter, to assess needs, said the commission on Thursday.

After a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck close to the city of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra province in Indonesia, another powerful earthquake hit Sumatra early Thursday morning.

"I am deeply concerned by the news coming out of Sumatra. The search for survivors buried in the rubble of collapsed buildings is ongoing and we fear there may be many more victims. In the meantime, the survivors lack everything, from shelter to fresh water. Our funding will allow us to provide relief quickly to the thousands who are in dire need of assistance," said Karel De Gucht, European commissioner for development and humanitarian aid.