Ecuador earthquake kills no less than 16 folks

CNN
 — 

A minimum of 16 folks died after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon, in response to authorities officers.

The earthquake struck close to the southern city of Baláo and was greater than 65 km (practically 41 miles) deep, in response to the US Geological Survey.

An estimated 381 folks have been injured within the quake, the Common Secretariat of Communication of the Presidency of Ecuador tweeted on their official account.

Within the province of El Oro, no less than 11 folks died. A minimum of one different dying was reported within the province of Azuay, in response to the communications division for Ecuador’s president. In an earlier assertion, authorities stated the individual in Azuay was killed when a wall collapsed onto a automobile and that no less than three of the victims in El Oro died when a safety digicam tower got here down.

Individuals who have been injured have been being handled at hospitals, the Presidency added, however didn’t present additional particulars.

The USGS gave the tremor an “orange alert,” saying “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”

“Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response,” the USGS added. It additionally estimated injury and financial losses have been potential.

Family members of a CNN producer within the western port metropolis of Guayaquil stated they felt “very strong” tremors.

CNN afiliate Ecuavisa reported structural injury to buildings in Cuenca, one of many nation’s largest cities. The historic metropolis is within the UN record of world heritage websites.

There is no such thing as a tsunami warning in impact for the realm, in response to the US Nationwide Climate Service.

The airports of Guayaquil and Cuenca remained open and operational, the nation’s assertion stated.