Earthquake: At least 13 people died in a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.8 that shook a coastal region of Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday. It caused structural damage to multiple homes, schools and medical centers. “Notable quake, preliminary info: M 6.7 – 6 km NNE of Balao, Ecuador,” United States Geological Survey Earthquake tweeted.
“Emergency teams are mobilizing to offer all their support to those who have been affected,” said Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso in a tweet.
Quake 66.4 km deep
The quake, which the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured at magnitude 6.8, struck at a depth of 66.4 km (41.3 miles) about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the city of Balao in the province of Guayas.
According to Ecuador`s communications department for President, 11 people died in the province of El Oro and one person in the province of Azuay. In an earlier statement, authorities said the person in Azuay died when a wall collapsed onto a car and that at least three of the victims in El Oro died when a security camera tower came down, reported CNN. The injured were being treated at hospitals, the Presidency added, but did not provide further details.
Orange alert by USGS
The USGS gave the tremor an “orange alert”, saying “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
“Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response,” the USGS added. It also estimated damage and economic losses were possible, as per a report.
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