Ecuador earthquake: Deaths rise to 235

At least 235 people have been killed by the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck western Ecuador on Saturday and the toll will likely rise further, the country's President Rafael Correa said on Sunday.

Vice Presdent Jorge Glas said earlier Sunday that more than 588 people had been injured, when he placed the death toll at 77.

Glas declared a state of emergency across six provinces in the Andean nation, while the National Guard was mobilized and 10,000 soldiers were deployed. Landslides were hampering rescue efforts in more remote areas.

Police, the military and emergency services "are in a state of maximum alert to protect the lives of citizens."

Media reports said a large oil refinery was temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure.

"There is considerable (structural) damage in the area near the epicenter as well as points as far away as Guayaquil," Ecuador's Geophysical Office (IG) said.

Media published photographs of a bridge and the roof of a shopping center that collapsed in the port city of Guayaquil, Ecuador's most populous city on the Pacific coast.

President Rafael Correa, on a visit to the Vatican, sent a message of support on Twitter.

"Authorities are already out evaluating damage and taking action" as needed," he said.

Glas earlier said on Twitter that a national emergency committee had been activated...
[i24news.tv - AFP]
17/4/16
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Related:

• Deadly earthquake hits Ecuador. A state of emergency was declared (Depth 10 km, local time: 18:58) 

• 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.