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| Ecuador quake deaths pass 500 with hundreds still missing | Ecuador quake deaths pass 500 with hundreds still missing |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The death toll from Saturday's devastating earthquake in Ecuador has risen to 570 and could increase by many more, authorities in the country say. | The death toll from Saturday's devastating earthquake in Ecuador has risen to 570 and could increase by many more, authorities in the country say. |
| Figures given by officials for the number of people missing ranged from 231 to 1,700. | Figures given by officials for the number of people missing ranged from 231 to 1,700. |
| Thousands of people have been left homeless, making them vulnerable to dirty drinking water and disease. | Thousands of people have been left homeless, making them vulnerable to dirty drinking water and disease. |
| Meanwhile a new 6.2 magnitude quake struck off the Ecuadorean coast, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. | Meanwhile a new 6.2 magnitude quake struck off the Ecuadorean coast, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. |
| The quake was centred 70km (44 miles) west of Esmeraldas at a shallow depth of 10km. | The quake was centred 70km (44 miles) west of Esmeraldas at a shallow depth of 10km. |
| More than 4,000 people have been injured in the disaster, officials said, | More than 4,000 people have been injured in the disaster, officials said, |
| The World Food Programme and Oxfam are sending supplies, while the UN said it was preparing a "major airlift". | The World Food Programme and Oxfam are sending supplies, while the UN said it was preparing a "major airlift". |
| Deputy Interior Minister Diego Fuentes said 2,000 people had been reported missing since the quake struck. He said that 300 had been located since. | Deputy Interior Minister Diego Fuentes said 2,000 people had been reported missing since the quake struck. He said that 300 had been located since. |
| Ecuador's Defence Minister Ricardo Patino later said that 231 people were still missing. | Ecuador's Defence Minister Ricardo Patino later said that 231 people were still missing. |
| Hopes wane | Hopes wane |
| The cost of rebuilding could be up to $3bn (£2.1bn), President Rafael Correa said during a visit to the worst-affected region. | The cost of rebuilding could be up to $3bn (£2.1bn), President Rafael Correa said during a visit to the worst-affected region. |
| Sniffer dogs and mechanical diggers were being used to search for survivors in areas and the smell of rotting bodies was filling the air, witnesses said. | Sniffer dogs and mechanical diggers were being used to search for survivors in areas and the smell of rotting bodies was filling the air, witnesses said. |
| Some people have been pulled out of the rubble alive but, despite the efforts of emergency teams, hope is fading that others will be found. | Some people have been pulled out of the rubble alive but, despite the efforts of emergency teams, hope is fading that others will be found. |
| From Tuesday, rescue efforts would become more of a hunt for corpses, Ecuador's Interior Minister Jose Serrano told Reuters. | From Tuesday, rescue efforts would become more of a hunt for corpses, Ecuador's Interior Minister Jose Serrano told Reuters. |
| Foreign nationals from the UK, Ireland, Canada, Colombia, Cuba and the Dominican Republic have been confirmed among the dead. | Foreign nationals from the UK, Ireland, Canada, Colombia, Cuba and the Dominican Republic have been confirmed among the dead. |
| Focus is turning to the survivors. The quake damaged communications, transport links and sanitation, hampering relief efforts. | Focus is turning to the survivors. The quake damaged communications, transport links and sanitation, hampering relief efforts. |
| Unicef has warned that 150,000 children have been affected by the disaster and said landslides were complicating rescue efforts in some areas, and some towns were without electricity. | Unicef has warned that 150,000 children have been affected by the disaster and said landslides were complicating rescue efforts in some areas, and some towns were without electricity. |
| The Spanish Red Cross estimated that up to 100,000 people would need assistance. | The Spanish Red Cross estimated that up to 100,000 people would need assistance. |
| Major international and aid organisations are sending help: | Major international and aid organisations are sending help: |
| Reconstruction costs are likely to be huge at a time when the oil-producing country is already reeling from the slump in global crude prices. | Reconstruction costs are likely to be huge at a time when the oil-producing country is already reeling from the slump in global crude prices. |
| Funerals for some of those killed have been held in Portoviejo and Pedernales, two towns that were the worst hit. | Funerals for some of those killed have been held in Portoviejo and Pedernales, two towns that were the worst hit. |
| The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a fairly shallow depth of 19.2km (11.9 miles), about 27km from Muisne in a sparsely populated area. | The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a fairly shallow depth of 19.2km (11.9 miles), about 27km from Muisne in a sparsely populated area. |
| Scientists say there is no connection between the quake in Ecuador and a severe tremor in southern Japan, which also occurred on Saturday. | Scientists say there is no connection between the quake in Ecuador and a severe tremor in southern Japan, which also occurred on Saturday. |