Earthquake in Ecuador kills at least 1, deals large damage

A strong earthquake shook the region around Ecuador’s second largest city on Saturday, killing at least one person, damaging houses and buildings and driving panicked residents into the streets.

The US Geological Survey reported a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in the country’s coastal Guayas region. It was located about 80 kilometers south of Guayaquil, which anchors a metropolitan area of ​​over 3 million people.

The South American country’s emergency agency, the Risk Management Secretariat, reported the death of one person in the Andean community of Cuenca. The victim was a passenger in a vehicle that was trapped under the rubble of a house.

In Guayaquil, about 270 kilometers southwest of the capital Quito, the authorities reported cracks in buildings and houses and some collapsed walls. The authorities ordered the closure of three car tunnels.

Videos shared on social media show people gathered on the streets of Guayaquil and in surrounding communities. People reported objects falling into their homes.

A pier sank in the town of Machala. The earthquake was also felt in northern Peru.

In 2019 a very powerful one A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck southern Ecuadornear the border with Peru.