Strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Ecuador: at least 800 buildings damaged

On Friday, April 25, around 6:44 a.m. local time, a strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake rattled the northern coast of Ecuador, injuring more than 30 people and damaging at least 800 buildings. The tremors were intense, as the epicenter was located just 20 kilometers from the mainland at a depth of only 2 kilometers. According to local press reports, the port city of Esmeraldas, situated in the northwest of Ecuador, experienced the worst devastation.

Following the earthquake, a spokesman for the state-owned oil company Petroecuador stated that they would temporarily shut down operations at the Esmeraldas refinery and a nearby pipeline to ensure public safety and prevent any potential industrial accidents. The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, promptly responded by dispatching emergency personnel to the area. The government is also setting up temporary shelters and distributing humanitarian aid to support those affected by the quake.