At least 235 people killed in Ecuador's strongest earthquake in decades

The death toll from Ecuador's biggest earthquake in decades soared to at least 235 as rescuers using tractors and bare hands hunted desperately for survivors in shattered coastal towns.

The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off the Pacific coast yesterday and was felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, causing panic as far away as the highland capital Quito and collapsing buildings and roads in a swathe of western towns.

President Rafael Correa, who was rushing home from a trip to Italy, said the confirmed number of fatalities rose to 233.

Coastal areas nearest the quake were worst affected, especially the tourist town of Pedernales. Information was scant from there due to poor communications and transport chaos.

"There are people trapped in various places and we are starting rescue operations," Vice President Jorge Glas said this morning before boarding a plane to the area.

• A state of emergency was declared in six provinces.

"There are villages totally devastated," Pedernales' mayor Gabriel Alcivar told local radio, adding that "dozens and dozens" had died in the area.

"What happened here in Pedernales is catastrophic."

Authorities said there were 135 aftershocks in the Pedernales area.

Local TV station Televicentro broadcast images from Pedernales showing locals using a small tractor to remove rubble and also searching with their hands for people buried. Locals said children were trapped.

In Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city, rubble lay in the streets and a bridge fell on top of a car.

"It was terrifying, we were all scared and we're still out in the streets because we're worried about aftershocks," said Guayaquil security guard Fernando Garcia.

About 13,500 security force personnel were mobilised to keep order around Ecuador, the government said...
 [rte.ie - Reuters]
17/4/16
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Related:

• 7.4-magnitude quake strikes Ecuador (Depth 10 km, local time: 18:58)

• La magnitude du séisme en Equateur est revue à la hausse et passe à 7,8... 

• Poderoso sismo 7,8 sacude costa de Ecuador...