Quito - The magnitude 7.8 quake which hit Ecuador on Saturday has killed 413 people, authorities said on Monday.
Quito – The magnitude 7.8 quake which hit Ecuador on Saturday has killed 413 people, authorities said on Monday.
About 10,000 troops and 4,600 police were deployed to search for survivors following the powerful earthquake in Ecuador.
The magnitude 7.8 quake struck on Saturday night off the country’s coast about 200km from the capital Quito, causing widespread damage to local communities.
Rafael Correa, the country’s president, said the tremor was “the worst tragedy in 67 years”, in a reference to the Ambato earthquake of 1949, which killed thousands.
The president declared a national emergency and cut short a visit to Rome, as he urged Ecuadoreans to stay strong while authorities handled the disaster.
Ecuadorean rescuers continue to look for more victims and survivors, with help from teams from several countries, including Chile, Cuba and Mexico.
With MAP
