Earthquake in Ecuador

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador on 16 April at 23:58 UTC (18:58 local time) and has caused severe damage in the country.

At least 659 people are known to have been killed, and almost thirty thousand more were injured.

The shallow earthquake, the worst to affect the country in almost forty years, struck near the town of Muisne on the western coast of Ecuador, and there were concerns of potential tsunami in the aftermath. While the risk of tsunami has now passed the earthquake has still caused widespread damage. Over a hundred aftershocks have been reported.

A state of emergency has been declared in the Guayas, Manabi, Santo Domingo, Los Rios, Esmeraldas and Galapagos Provinces, all of which are on the coast of the nation. Rescue operations and the search for survivors are ongoing. Soldiers have been deployed to aid the rescue operations in the north-west, but landslides have made it difficult to reach some areas. Ecuador is receiving international aid and relief from eight separate countries.

The Manabi Province suffered the most damage, with the town of Pedernales, which was close to the earthquake, reportedly flattened and further south the cities of Manta and Portoviejo have also suffered severe damage.

Thousands of people have been left homeless, and it is estimated it will take years for the worst-affected areas to recover and rebuild.