Magnitude 6.eight earthquake leaves not less than 16 useless, damages one in every of Ecuador’s greatest cities

No less than 16 individuals died after a magnitude 6.eight earthquake struck southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon, based on authorities officers.

The earthquake struck close to the southern city of Baláo and was greater than 65 km (almost 41 miles) deep, based on america Geological Survey.

An estimated 381 individuals 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, not less than 11 individuals died. No less than one different loss of life was reported within the province of Azuay, based on the communications division for Ecuador’s president. In an earlier assertion, authorities mentioned the individual in Azuay was killed when a wall collapsed onto a automobile and that not 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 “important casualties are seemingly and the catastrophe is probably widespread.”

“Previous occasions with this alert degree have required a regional or nationwide degree response,” the USGS added. It additionally estimated harm and financial losses have been attainable.

Relations of a CNN producer within the western port metropolis of Guayaquil mentioned they felt “very sturdy” tremors.

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

There isn’t any tsunami warning in impact for the world, based on the US Nationwide Climate Service.

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

CNN’s Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.

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