Earthquake hits Ecuador, troops deployed to help rescue citizens

There are fears the death toll could rise with the worst hit areas yet to be reached
There are fears the death toll could rise with the worst hit areas yet to be reached

Rescue efforts are under way in Ecuador after the country suffered its worst earthquake in decades, with at least 77 people confirmed dead.

Some 10,000 troops and 3,500 police are being deployed in the affected areas.

The powerful magnitude-7.8 quake struck early on Saturday evening and was felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia.

Coastal areas in the north-west were closest to the epicentre and officials say the death toll is likely to rise as information begins to come in.

“These are very difficult moments,” Ecuador’s Vice-President Jorge Glas said.

“We have information that there are injured people who are trapped [under rubble] in different districts and we are getting ready to rescue them.”

Helicopters and buses are ferrying troops north but have been hampered by landslides.

Mr Glas said food and other essentials were being handed out and international aid was also beginning, with the first coming from Venezuela and Mexico.

President Rafael Correa, who is flying back from a trip to Italy, has decreed a state of emergency, calling on his country to be “calm and united”.

_89275321_ecuador_quake_2016

At least 500 people were injured in the quake, which was felt across the country.

Widespread severe damage is reported, with a bridge destroyed as far south as Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away.

Gabriel Alcivar, mayor of Pedernales, close to the epicentre, said the “entire town” had been flattened.

“We’re trying to do the most we can but there’s almost nothing we can do,” he added, warning that looting had broken out.

A road bridge collapsed in Guayaquil, about 300km south of the epicentre of the quake
A road bridge collapsed in Guayaquil, about 300km south of the epicentre of the quake
Looking for survivors in Pedernales. Its mayor said the whole town had collapsed
Looking for survivors in Pedernales. Its mayor said the whole town had collapsed

In badly hit Manta, one woman said: “The third floor collapsed on top of us.

“They are all there, my family, my sister, my children. They are all there, there are a lot of people. My God, may the help arrive.”

Cristian Ibarra Santillan was in the capital Quito when the quake struck.

“There had been some small tremors going on for about two or three months and I thought it was one of those but after about 20, 30 seconds it started to get really strong,” he told the BBC.

“And I grabbed my dog and I hid under the table. But then I realised that it wasn’t going away so I just ran with him outside.”

The quake is Ecuador’s largest since 1979. More than 130 aftershocks have followed.

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.

David Rothery, a professor of geosciences at The Open University, said Ecuador’s quake was about six times as powerful as the earthquake that struck southern Japan on Saturday.

The quake was also felt in Colombia, where patients in a clinic in the city of Cali were evacuated from the building.

[su_note note_color=”#fefccb”]The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Libyan News’s editorial policy.[/su_note]

The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express.
How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@libyanexpress.com. Please include ‘Op-Ed’ in the subject line.
You might also like

Submit a Correction

For: Earthquake hits Ecuador, troops deployed to help rescue citizens

Your suggestion have been successfully submitted

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

Libyan Express will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.