A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador on Saturday night, April 16 (Sunday morning in Philippine Time). At least 28 people have died, the country's vice president, Jorge Glas, told in a televised address.
"We have 16 people dead in the city of Portoviejo, 10 in Manta and two in the province of Guayas," Glas said at a news conference. He added that number is still for confirmation.
Glas also declared state of emergency and said that preventive evacuations in coastal areas were underway because of possible tsunami risks.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor was centered about 27 kilometers (16.8 miles) south-southeast of Muisne. Earthquake occurred as the result of shallow thrust faulting on or near the plate boundary between the Nazca and Pacific plates.
CNN has reported that there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in the capital of Quito, located 173 kilometers (108 miles) from the epicenter of the earthquake.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a threat forecast for some parts of Ecuador, saying waves could could reach 1 meter (3 feet) above tide level. An earlier warning for other nations with coastlines on the Pacific was canceled.
Ecuador is prone to earthquakes. It is located along the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped, seismically turbulent area of the Pacific Ocean.
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| At least 28 people killed after powerful earthquake hit Ecuador. Photo Credit: Daily Mail Online |
Glas also declared state of emergency and said that preventive evacuations in coastal areas were underway because of possible tsunami risks.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor was centered about 27 kilometers (16.8 miles) south-southeast of Muisne. Earthquake occurred as the result of shallow thrust faulting on or near the plate boundary between the Nazca and Pacific plates.
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| M7.8 Earthquake at 27km SSE of Muisne, Ecuador. Photo Credit: USGS |
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a threat forecast for some parts of Ecuador, saying waves could could reach 1 meter (3 feet) above tide level. An earlier warning for other nations with coastlines on the Pacific was canceled.
Ecuador is prone to earthquakes. It is located along the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped, seismically turbulent area of the Pacific Ocean.
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