Massive Earthquake Kills Over 238, Injures 1,500 In Ecuador
Mon Apr 18, 2016 08:52:am World
2.1K By sosa hills
At least 238 people have been confirmed dead, with hundreds more injured after a 7.8-magnitude quake rocked the central coast of Ecuador, Sky News reports.
The massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Ecuador's coastal region happened on Saturday.T
The government has announced a state of emergency in six provinces, including Guayas, Manabi, Santo Domingo, Los Rios, Esmeraldas and Galapagos. The earthquake's epicenter was mapped near the major city of Quito.
Ricardo Peñaherrera of Quito's emergency management office said no fewer than 1,500 people were injured.
This is the strongest quake to hit the country since 1987 when a 7.2 magnitude tremor left 1,000 people dead. If history is any indication, then the death toll from Saturday's quake is likely to rise.
A survivor, Jose Meregildo, told CNN that the earthquake, which happened on Saturday night, threw the whole neighbourhood in pandemonium
"It was the worst experience of my life. Everybody in my neighborhood was screaming saying it was going to be the end of the world; it was very terrible here," he said.
Already, 10,000 soldiers and 4,600 policemen have been deployed to the most badly hit areas. Regional neighbors, including Mexico, have promised manpower and resources to bolster the relief effort.
The earthquake comes as Japan begins recovery operations, searching for victims after its own set of massive tremors. "Forty-one people were killed when a magnitude-6.2 earthquake jolted the Kyushu region Thursday, followed by a magnitude-7.0 in the same area Saturday," reports CNN.
The massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Ecuador's coastal region happened on Saturday.T
The government has announced a state of emergency in six provinces, including Guayas, Manabi, Santo Domingo, Los Rios, Esmeraldas and Galapagos. The earthquake's epicenter was mapped near the major city of Quito.
Ricardo Peñaherrera of Quito's emergency management office said no fewer than 1,500 people were injured.
This is the strongest quake to hit the country since 1987 when a 7.2 magnitude tremor left 1,000 people dead. If history is any indication, then the death toll from Saturday's quake is likely to rise.
A survivor, Jose Meregildo, told CNN that the earthquake, which happened on Saturday night, threw the whole neighbourhood in pandemonium
"It was the worst experience of my life. Everybody in my neighborhood was screaming saying it was going to be the end of the world; it was very terrible here," he said.
Already, 10,000 soldiers and 4,600 policemen have been deployed to the most badly hit areas. Regional neighbors, including Mexico, have promised manpower and resources to bolster the relief effort.
The earthquake comes as Japan begins recovery operations, searching for victims after its own set of massive tremors. "Forty-one people were killed when a magnitude-6.2 earthquake jolted the Kyushu region Thursday, followed by a magnitude-7.0 in the same area Saturday," reports CNN.
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