CNN
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Not less than 16 individuals died after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon, in accordance with authorities officers.
The earthquake struck close to the southern city of Baláo and was greater than 65 km (almost 41 miles) deep, in accordance with the United States Geological Survey.
An estimated 381 individuals had been injured within the quake, the Normal Secretariat of Communication of the Presidency of Ecuador tweeted on their official account.
Within the province of El Oro, no less than 11 individuals died. Not less than one different demise was reported within the province of Azuay, in accordance with the communications division for Ecuador’s president. In an earlier assertion, authorities mentioned the particular person in Azuay was killed when a wall collapsed onto a automotive and that no less than three of the victims in El Oro died when a safety digicam tower got here down.
Individuals who had been injured had been being handled at hospitals, the Presidency added, however didn’t present additional particulars.
The USGS gave the tremor an “orange alert,” saying “vital casualties are doubtless and the catastrophe is doubtlessly widespread.”
“Previous occasions with this alert degree have required a regional or nationwide degree response,” the USGS added. It additionally estimated injury and financial losses had been potential.
Family of a CNN producer within the western port metropolis of Guayaquil mentioned they felt “very robust” tremors.
CNN afiliate Ecuavisa reported structural injury to buildings in Cuenca, one of many nation’s greatest cities. The historic metropolis is within the UN checklist of world heritage websites.
There isn’t a tsunami warning in impact for the realm, in accordance with the US Nationwide Climate Service.
The airports of Guayaquil and Cuenca remained open and operational, the nation’s assertion mentioned.
