International News: Magnitude 6.8 earthquake kills at least 13 and injures almost 500 in Ecuador

Published by [email protected] at March 19, 2023

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Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2023. 10:09 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: CNN reports that at least 13 people have died and 461 others were injured after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon, according to government officials. The earthquake hit near the southern town of Baláo and was more than 65 km deep, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Initially, the government had reported 16 deaths but later revised the death toll. In the province of El Oro, at least 11 people died, while another death was reported in the province of Azuay. The Ecuadorian president’s communication department stated that at least three of the victims in El Oro died when a security camera tower came down, while one person in Azuay was killed when a wall collapsed onto a car.

CNN affiliate Ecuavisa reported structural damage to buildings in Cuenca, one of the country’s biggest cities, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The airports of Guayaquil and Cuenca remained open and operational, according to the Ecuadorian government statement.

The USGS gave the tremor an “orange alert,” stating that “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 also estimated that damage and economic losses were possible.

The earthquake struck in a region known for seismic activity. Ecuador lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, which is the most seismically active region in the world.

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