7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Ecuador's Central Coast, At Least 28 Dead
QUITO, Ecuador (CBSNewYork/AP) — Ecuador's Vice President Jorge Glas says at least 28 people have been killed in a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the country's central coast.
Glas said Saturday in a televised address that the dead were located in the cities of Manta, Guayaquil and Portoviejo.
He said the earthquake was the strongest to hit Ecuador in decades.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the shallow quake was centered 27 kilometers (16 miles) south-southeast of Muisne, Ecuador, in a sparsely populated area of fishing ports popular with tourists.
In the port city of Guayaquil, an overpass collapsed on top of a car and the roof of a shopping center buckled. In Manta, the airport was closed after the control tower suffered severe damages.
President Rafael Correa called on Ecuadoreans to show strength while he and authorities monitor events.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves are possible for some coasts. But the government's natural disaster agency didn't issue a tsunami alert.
In the capital, the quake was felt for about 40 seconds and people fled to the streets in fear. Quito is located about 170 kilometers (105 miles) from the quake's epicenter. The quake appeared to have knocked out electricity and cellphone coverage in several neighborhoods in the capital.
"I'm in a state of panic," said Zoila Villena, one of many Quito residents who congregated in the streets. "My building moved a lot and things fell to the floor. Lots of neighbors were screaming and kids crying."
The USGS originally put the quake at a magnitude of 7.4 then raised it to 7.8. It had a depth of 19 kilometers.
Several aftershocks, some as strong as 5.6 on the Richter scale, continued in the hour after the first quake, which occurred at nightfall.
Guayaquil's international airport was also closed because of a lack of communications.
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