A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hits Ecuador, and at least 14 deaths are reported

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Destroyed buildings are seen after an earthquake in the city of Machala, Ecuador on March 18, 2023. Four dead in southern Ecuador and damage to buildings following an earthquake centered in that country that reached its neighbor Peru, according to a preliminary balance sheet. from the authorities. An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 in Ecuador and 7.0 in Peru was recorded at 12:12 local time (17:12 GMT) in the Ecuadorian municipality of Palau, about 140 kilometers from the port of Guayaquil, and at a depth of 44 kilometers, according to the authorities. mentioned. (Photo by Glenn Suarez/AFP)

Quito – At least 14 people were killed in a powerful earthquake that struck a coastal region of Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, causing structural damage to several homes, schools and medical centers.

The quake, with a magnitude of 6.8 from the USGS, occurred at a depth of 66.4 kilometers (41.3 miles) 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the city of Palau in the province of Guayas.

The authorities said it was unlikely that the quake would cause a tsunami.

“We are staying in the area to check the damage caused by the earthquake this morning. I want to confirm that I am with you and express my solidarity and commitment to the victims,” Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso said in a tweet.

The Communications Agency of the Presidency of the Republic said that the earthquake left 14 dead and more than 380 injured, most of them in the Oro region.

The agency said at least 44 homes were destroyed, while 90 others were damaged. About 50 educational buildings and more than 30 health centers were also damaged, while many roads were closed due to landslides caused by the earthquake. Santa Rosa Airport sustained minor damage, but remained operational.

The Ecuadorian Risk Management Secretariat said in a previous statement that one death occurred in the province of Azuay when a wall collapsed in a car. In other counties, structural damage included the collapse of a dock and the collapse of a wall in a supermarket.

The agency said that the state oil company, Petro Ecuador, evacuated and suspended its activities in several precautionary facilities, but it did not report any damage.

“We all ran out into the streets…we were very scared,” Ernesto Alvarado, a resident of Isla Puna near the epicenter, told Reuters, adding that some houses had collapsed.

The initial quake was followed by two weaker aftershocks in the next hour, according to the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador.

Peruvian authorities said the quake was felt in the northern region of the country, but there were no immediate reports of damage to people or facilities.

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First posted at 8:17 am

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