Strong tremors were felt in the South American countries of Peru and Ecuador, where 14 people died and buildings were damaged.
In the Ecuadorian cities of Machala and Cuenca, the earthquake destroyed buildings and damaged vehicles, as well as piles of debris in other cities.
Officials said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8, a depth of about 41 miles (66 km), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), and was centered in the Ecuadorian city of Balao, near the border with Peru.
“I ran out of the house because people were running in fear and getting out of their cars,” said Magale Scandon, a Cuenca resident.
A statement from Ecuador’s president’s office said a total of 13 people died as a result of the earthquake, including 11 in El Oro province and two in Azuya.
According to the official report, a 4-year-old girl died after being hit by a brick on her head in the city of Timbs, Peru, near the border of Ecuador. .
Reports on social media said that earthquake tremors were also felt in other cities including Guayaquil, Quinto, Manabi and Manata and the injured were shifted to hospitals for medical attention.
The number of injured and other details were not given in the reports.
The president of Ecuador visited the affected province of El Oro and also visited the hospital where the injured are being given medical aid and will then go to other cities.
In a video statement released on the social networking site Twitter, he said, “I have just completed my visit to Machala city and the government has approved the provision of aid and resources.”
Earlier, he urged the citizens to exercise patience and inform official sources about the damage to buildings.
According to Quito’s Risk Management Office, debris from a building fell on a car in Cuenca, killing a civilian, and journalists in the city also reported that old houses in the historic center were destroyed.
Remember that in 2016, the worst earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred in Ecuador, in which more than 525 people were killed and more than 1700 were missing.
The US Geological Center said that this earthquake is the worst in Ecuador since 1949.
#magnitude #earthquake #Peru #Ecuador #people #killed
2024-08-28 05:42:10
