Ecuador earthquake: Powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Ecuador – Ring of Fire ALERT
ECUADOR has been rocked by two strong earthquakes, one near its border with Peru – and another near the country’s west coast, Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) and the US Geological Survey (USGS) report.
By NICOLE STINSON
Express.co.uk
Fri, Feb 22, 2019
The nation was struck by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake at 10.17am GMT near Macas, 115km east southeast of Palora, Ecuador, according to initial reports from Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP). Around 20 minutes later the Ecuadorian city of Guayaqull on its west coast was rocked by a 5.5 magnitude earthquake at 10.40pm GMT, the USGS reports. Pictures on social media show damage to building in Sigsig, Ecuador as the 7.7 magnitude quake was felt in different parts of Peru, as well as Ecuador and Brazil, Peru media reports.
Emergency committees have been activated in the regions affected, Ecuador’s president confirmed following the earthquake near the Ecuador-Peru border.
The USGS has revised the quake’s magnitude to 7.5 and hospitals in Babahoyo and Riobamba have been evacuated.
Footage shared on social media shows hospital beds with IV drips being wheeled through the streets.
President Lenin Moreno tweeted: “Dear compatriots, the preliminary reports of the first earthquakes near Macas do not indicate major damages.
“They were felt throughout the country and some provincial emergency committees have already been activated.”
He added in another tweet: “The third quake was near Guayaqull. Preliminary reports also do not report further damage.”
Four more tremors ranging from 6.6 magnitude down to 3.8 magnitude have been felt in surrounding areas of the first two earthquakes.
A 6.06 magnitude earthquake struck 65.29km from Macas at 10.20am GMT (5.20am local time) followed by a 3.87 aftershock at 11.08am GMT (6.08am local time) and a 3.87 tremor at 11.23am GMT (6.23am local time), according to Ecuador’s earthquake authority.
The 5.5 magnitude earthquake near Guayaquil was followed by a 3.51 aftershock.
Ecuador is located along the earthquake hotspot known as the Ring of Fire.
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