A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Ecuador’s Pacific coast, injuring 20 and damaging homes. Residents faced power outages, prompting shutdowns at local facilities. The tsunami alert issued was later canceled; President Noboa pledged government assistance.
A strong magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook Ecuador’s Pacific coast early on Friday morning, as reported by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre. The quake hit around 6:45 a.m. local time (11:45 GMT) and had its epicenter near the northwestern city of Esmeraldas at a depth of approximately 30 kilometers, or 18.6 miles.
In the aftermath, at least 20 individuals sustained injuries, and damage was reported to over 60 homes, a health facility, and a military building. Eyewitness accounts reveal chaotic scenes, with residents maneuvering through rubble during the evacuations. Some locals worked to clear fallen structures, which created hazards on the streets.
Local news sources reported widespread power outages in Esmeraldas, prompting the state energy company Petroecuador to temporarily halt operations at the Esmeraldas refinery as a safety precaution. The quake reverberated throughout at least ten provinces, including Quito, the capital, and even reached parts of Colombia.
Initially, Ecuadorian officials issued a tsunami alert for the Pacific coast but retracted it shortly afterward. President Daniel Noboa, currently in Rome due to Pope Francis’s funeral, expressed that the government is arranging shelters and distributing humanitarian aid kits. He emphasized the commitment to “assistance in everything our people need.”
Ecuador sits atop the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, making it vulnerable to seismic activity. The region experiences consistent tremors, highlighting the ongoing geological risks faced by its residents.
In summary, the magnitude 6.3 earthquake off Ecuador’s Pacific coast on Friday resulted in injuries and damage across several provinces, triggering power outages and temporary operational suspensions at the Esmeraldas refinery. Following the quake, President Noboa pledged government assistance to support affected individuals, emphasizing the need for shelters and humanitarian aid. As a country situated on tectonic plate boundaries, Ecuador remains susceptible to seismic events.
Original Source: www.aa.com.tr
