- The earthquake struck at 12:00 local time.
- At least 12 people died.
- There have also been reports of earthquakes being felt in other places.
A massive earthquake slammed Ecuador‘s southern coast, killing at least 12 people.
Structures in various cities have been damaged as a result of the 6.7 magnitude earthquake, which struck at 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT).
The southern region of El Oro was the most hit, with emergency services reporting that individuals are still trapped inside collapsed houses.
Eleven people were killed in El Oro and one in Azuay province, according to police.
Buildings and vehicles were damaged in Machala and Cuenca as emergency personnel hurried to assist residents.
The epicenter was near Balao, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second-largest city, which has a population of about three million people.
“I went out into the street because I saw people starting to run in panic, getting out of their cars,” Magaly Escandon, a business owner in Cuenca, told the AFP news agency.
President Guillermo Lasso asked Ecuadoreans to remain calm as officials assess the damage.
“Emergency teams are mobilizing to offer all their support to those who have been affected,” he said.
Mr. Lasso’s office also verified that injured people were being treated in hospitals, but provided no other information.
Many roads have been closed due to landslides, and some homes, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities have been destroyed, according to authorities.
One person was killed when a wall collapsed over their automobile in Cuenca, while three individuals were killed when a security camera tower collapsed on Jambel Island.
There have also been reports of earthquakes being felt in other places, including Manabi, Manta, and Quito.
This is the largest quake to hit Ecuador since 2016 when almost 700 people perished and hundreds were injured.
According to Peruvian officials, the quake was felt in the country’s northern areas, but there were no early reports of injuries or damage.
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