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| Deadly earthquake hits Ecuador | Deadly earthquake hits Ecuador |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 28 people in Ecuador, Vice-President Jorge Glas says. | A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 28 people in Ecuador, Vice-President Jorge Glas says. |
| A state of emergency was declared in six provinces and the National Guard has been mobilised. | A state of emergency was declared in six provinces and the National Guard has been mobilised. |
| The quake, centred near the coastal town of Muisne, destroyed an overpass in the city of Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away, local media say. | The quake, centred near the coastal town of Muisne, destroyed an overpass in the city of Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away, local media say. |
| The tremor also shook buildings in the capital Quito, forcing residents to flee their homes. | The tremor also shook buildings in the capital Quito, forcing residents to flee their homes. |
| "We have 16 people dead in the city of Portoviejo, 10 in Manta and two in the province of Guayas," Mr Glas said at a news conference, adding that the number still needed to be confirmed. | |
| He said that emergency services, police and the army were "in a state of maximum alert to protect the lives of citizens." | |
| Quito resident Zoila Villena told the Associated Press news agency: "I'm in a state of panic," | Quito resident Zoila Villena told the Associated Press news agency: "I'm in a state of panic," |
| "My building moved a lot and things fell to the floor. Lots of neighbours were screaming and kids crying," she said. | "My building moved a lot and things fell to the floor. Lots of neighbours were screaming and kids crying," she said. |
| Parts of the capital were left without electricity for some time. | |
| Reports say a big oil refinery has been temporarily shut as a precautionary measure. | |
| The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a depth of 19.2km (11.9 miles), about 27km from Muisne - a coastal town in a sparsely populated area. | |
| Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said "tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one meter above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Ecuador". | Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said "tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one meter above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Ecuador". |
| Neighbouring Peru issued a tsunami alert for its northern shore. | Neighbouring Peru issued a tsunami alert for its northern shore. |
| Ecuador is prone to earthquakes. It is located along the so-called Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped, seismically turbulent area of the Pacific Ocean. |