Following Ecuador’s magnitude 6.8 earthquake, at least 13 people have died.
According to government officials, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that slammed southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon claimed at least 13 lives.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake, which occurred close to the southern town of Baláo, was more than 65 kilometers (almost 41 miles) deep.
The communications office for Ecuador’s president reported that at least 11 people died in the province of El Oro and at least one person died in the province of Azuay. Authorities said in a previous statement that the person in Azuay died when a wall fell on top of a car and that at least three of the fatalities in El Oro perished when a security camera tower collapsed. Hospitals were treating injured people, the Presidency noted, without offering any other information.
The tremor was given a “orange alert” by the USGS, which stated that “substantial casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
“Previous incidents with this alert level have required a regional or national level reaction,” the USGS continued. It also calculated the potential for harm and financial losses.
Guayaquil, a western port city, reported feeling “extremely severe” tremors. One of the largest cities in the nation, Cuenca, has structural damage to structures, according to Ecuavisa. On the UN’s list of world heritage sites is the ancient city.
According to the US National Weather Service, there is no tsunami warning in place for the region. According to the nation’s announcement, the airports in Guayaquil and Cuenca are still open