Powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolts Ecuador, northern Peru; 15 killed
At least 15 people were killed after a strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook southern Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, reported AP. The number of casualties will likely rise as many are believed to be trapped under the rubble while the rescue operations are underway. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake was about 80km south of Ecuador's Guayaquil.
Ecuador's El Oro region worst hit
According to the Ecuadorian president's office, the coastal state of El Oro is the worst hit as twelve of the victims died there, while two people died in the highlands state of Azuay. It also reported that over 380 were injured in the country. Meanwhile, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso requested people to stay calm as the earthquake triggered panic and "generated alarm" in them.
President Guillermo Lasso expressed solidarity with victims
Joint rescue by firefighters and police underway
Ecuador's emergency response agency said that rescue teams of firefighters and police had been sent to the affected areas. According to reports, firefighters were rescuing tapped individuals while the police were assessing the damage. The quake also caused damage to healthcare facilities and schools. Authorities in Guayaquil reported cracks in buildings and houses, as well as some incidents of collapsed walls.
Strong tremors felt in Peru
The earthquake was felt in Peru, too, from its northern border with Ecuador to the central Pacific coast, Reuters reported. Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otárola said a four-year-old girl died in the Tumbes region as her house's roof collapsed. Army barracks and many houses were also damaged in Tumbes. Peruvian seismologists first reported an earthquake of magnitude of 7.0, but it was later downgraded.
Visuals of earthquake's aftermath
Images of damage shared on Twitter
Ecuador is prone to earthquakes
According to the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador, the first earthquake was followed by two aftershocks of lesser magnitude within an hour. However, there is no threat of a tsunami, said the Ecuadorian Navy. Notably, earthquakes are more common in Ecuador as it's prone to tremors. In 2016, around 600 people were killed in a quake that was centered farther north on the Pacific Coast.
