A state of emergency was declared in six provinces and the National Guard has been mobilised.
The quake, centred near the coastal town of Muisne, destroyed an overpass in the city of Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away, local media say.
The tremor also shook buildings in the capital Quito, forcing residents to flee their homes.
"We have 16 people dead in the city of Portoviejo, 10 in Manta and two in the province of Guayas," Mr Glas said at a news conference.
Quito resident Zoila Villena told the Associated Press news agency: "I'm in a state of panic,"
"My building moved a lot and things fell to the floor. Lots of neighbours were screaming and kids crying," she said.
Parts of the capital were for some time without electricity.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a depth of 19.2km (11.9 miles).
Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said "tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one meter above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Ecuador".
Neighbouring Peru issued a tsunami alert for its northern shore.
BBC
17/4/16
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- Magnitude Mw 7.4
Date time 2016-04-16 23:58:36.6 UTC
Location 0.38 N ; 79.88 W
Depth 10 km
Distances:
165 km NW of Quito, Ecuador / pop: 1,399,814 / local time: 18:58:36.6 2016-04-16
30 km SE of Muisne, Ecuador / pop: 13,393 / local time: 18:58:36.6 2016-04-16
[emsc-csem.org]
17/4/16
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Authorities in Ecuador say a powerful earthquake has killed at least 28 people...
ReplyDeleteThe U.S. Geological Survey says the shallow 7.8 magnitude quake struck late Saturday along the South American country's coast.
It was felt 170 kilometers away in Quito, the capital, where it knocked out electricity and cell phone coverage in several neighborhoods. Quito buildings swayed for about 40 seconds, causing people to rush into the streets.
A bridge collapsed in the port city of Guayaquil.
In Manta, the airport was closed after the control tower was damaged.
Vice President Jorge Glas says the national guard has been mobilized to maintain public order.
A tsunami warning has been issued, but there were no immediate reports of waves.
.voanews.com
A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck off the northwest Pacific coast of Ecuador late on Saturday, causing "considerable damage" near the epicenter as well as in the commercial hub of Guayaquil, the government said.
ReplyDeleteConfused residents in the capital Quito streamed into the streets and authorities warned of strong waves on the Andean nation's coast.
"I was in my house watching a movie and everything started to shake. I ran out into the street and now I don't know what's going to happen," said Lorena Cazares, 36, a telecommunications worker in Quito.
Social media pictures showed a collapsed bridge in Guayaquil and a collapsed tower at an airport in the city of Manta.
"There is considerable damage in the area of the epicenter and also as far away as places like the city of Guayaquil," the Geophysics Institute said in a bulletin, but gave no details.
It said the quake struck at around 8:00 p.m. (0100 GMT) at a depth of 20 km (12.4 miles).