Devastating Earthquake Hits Home For Queens Residents With Family In Ecuador

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- More rescue crews were in Ecuador to help on Monday, following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that destroyed and damaged several towns.

Nearly 300 people are dead, and hundreds more were injured with numbers expected to rise.

As CBS2's Raegan Medgie reported, for some in Queens it's been a relief to hear from family and friends.

It was a busy Monday for Luz Delgado at Barzola Restaurant on 37th Ave in Jackson Heights. Work has been helping her keep her mind off of thinking about her country's devastating earthquake.

"Very sad. When I heard devastation, my heart goes out to people," she said.

Photos: Devastating Earthquake Rocks Ecuador

Soon after the earthquake rattled her country, a friend who lives in hard hit Portoviejo called to say she is okay.

"Devastated, in shock. I'm desperately trying to contact people," she said.

Delgado then became worried about her sons even though they don't live near Portoviejo and the resort town of Pedernales where the earthquake caused the most damage.

Not everyone was as lucky. Delgado recently served a customer who lost his mother in the disaster.

Brian Roman works at Barzola as well, and said the restaurant turned on the news for customers who couldn't get in touch with loved ones because there was not power to the impacted coastal area.

"People were just worried everywhere about families," he said.

The community has been made closer despite being hundreds of miles away during a time of tragedy.

On Monday, the Council General of Ecuador is holding an open meeting at 7 p.m. at its Manhattan office. Relief efforts and other information will be discussed.