At least 12 people died after an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale that shook the province of Guayas, in the coastal region of Ecuador, on Saturday, causing extensive material damage.
According to the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School of Ecuador, the earthquake occurred at 12:11 local time (17:12 GMT) at 2.78 degrees south latitude and 79.93 degrees west longitude.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 44 kilometers, and 29.12 kilometers from Balao (Guayas), in southwestern Ecuador.
The first quake was followed by another, of magnitude 4.8, at a depth of 24 kilometers, according to the institute.
The Risk Management Secretariat said that damage was detected in the center of the Andean city of Cuenca, where the facade of a house collapsed on a vehicle, and one person is presumed dead.
The earthquake was felt strongly, including in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, in the Andean region of the country.
The Geophysical Institute received reports from the population that felt the earthquake in the province of El Oro, on the border with Peru, and also in the province of Loja, as well as in the coastal province of Manabí and in the Amazonian province of Zanora Chinchipe.
The Oceanographic Institute of the Navy (Inocar) said that the earthquake did not have the conditions to cause a tsunami.
The earthquake was also felt in Peru where it reached a magnitude of 7, according to the report of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), which added that ten minutes later another telluric movement of magnitude 4.1 was registered in the same area.
Local media showed images of the earthquake in avenues and shopping centers in Tumbes, where some material damage was reported, such as the collapse of a watchtower of an old military barracks, but without personal casualties.
Peru and Ecuador are located in the area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where approximately 85% of the world’s seismic activity occurs.
News updated at 21:50
Source: TSF
