Last week, Ecuador commemorated the victims of the 2016 earthquake that measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. On Friday, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Esmeraldas province in northwestern Ecuador, injuring over 30 people and destroying 179 homes, according to the latest report released by authorities.
Andrés Mafare, a 36-year-old fisherman, recounted to the French News Agency (AFP) that he ran “like crazy” to reach his family. “When I arrived, I saw my little house had collapsed,” he said, but fortunately, his wife and two children were safe and unharmed.
The earthquake occurred around 6:45 AM local time (14:45 in Greece) with a focal depth estimated at 35 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located 8.4 kilometers from the city of Esmeraldas, the capital of the coastal province of the same name, near the border with Colombia, and was felt in 10 of Ecuador’s 24 provinces.
“It was very strong… It felt like an eternity,” said Yaku Pérez, a former presidential candidate in Ecuador, who was at a university in Esmeraldas for a book presentation. As he left, he saw “destroyed, small houses.”
The earthquake resulted in 32 injuries and the destruction of 179 homes, according to the latest reports from authorities. The electrical and telecommunications networks were affected, and damage was reported to two bridges, roads, 26 schools, and seven health centers.
Last week, Ecuador honored the memory of the victims of the 2016 earthquake that struck the coasts of the Manabí and Esmeraldas provinces. Measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, it resulted in 673 fatalities and approximately 6,300 injuries.
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