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Earthquake kills dozens in Ecuador | Earthquake kills dozens in Ecuador |
(35 minutes later) | |
A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 41 people in Ecuador, Vice-President Jorge Glas says. | A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 41 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, near the coastal town of Muisne, destroyed a bridge in the country's largest city of Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away. | The quake, near the coastal town of Muisne, destroyed a bridge in the country's largest city of Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away. |
The tremor, which struck just before 19:00 on Saturday (midnight GMT), also shook buildings in the capital Quito. | |
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. An airport tower in the city of Manta is also said to have been destroyed. | Parts of the capital were left without electricity for some time. An airport tower in the city of Manta is also said to have been destroyed. |
Reports say a big oil refinery has been temporarily shut as a precautionary measure. | Reports say a big oil refinery has been temporarily shut as a precautionary measure. |
Mr Glas told reporters that emergency services, police and the army were "in a state of maximum alert to protect the lives of citizens." | |
In pictures: Ecuador earthquake | In pictures: Ecuador earthquake |
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. | 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. |
The quake was also felt in Colombia, where patients in a clinic in the city of Cali were evacuated from the building as a precautionary measure. | The quake was also felt in Colombia, where patients in a clinic in the city of Cali were evacuated from the building as a precautionary measure. |
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. | 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. |