An earthquake that began this Saturday afternoon (18) in Ecuador struck four other countries and claimed at least 14 lives as a result of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake. Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Mexico were hit by the earthquake. The strongest earthquakes occurred in Ecuador and Peru.
Ecuadorian President Guilherme Lasso confirmed 14 dead and one injured in the country affecting 13 provinces.
The earthquake in Ecuador occurred at 12:12 local time (16:12 GMT) with a magnitude of 6.5 and had its epicenter in the Ecuadorian municipality of Balao, about 140 km from the port of Guayaquil, and at a depth of 44 km, specified authorities.
The earthquake in Peru was of lower intensity (about 4.5) and hit the north and central coasts. So far, no casualties or major damage have been reported.
In Mexico, the earthquake had a magnitude of 3.3 and was noticed 12 km northwest of the municipality of Uruapan at 13:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
In Chile, the earthquake had a magnitude of 4.6 and was felt in the municipality of Sierra Gorda at 5 p.m. local time (same time in Brasilia).
In Argentina, tremors were recorded in Mendoza (5.0) and Catamarca (3.0) 30 minutes apart. About 50 minutes later, another earthquake was registered in San Juan (magnitude 2.6).
The Ecuadorian Navy’s Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute said the quake “does not meet the necessary conditions to trigger a Pacific tsunami.”
“I took to the streets because I saw people running out of their cars in desperation,” said Magaly Escandón, a sewing saleswoman in Cuenca, in southern Ecuador.
The Risk Management Secretariat of Ecuador said that in Cuenca the facade of a house collapsed on a vehicle and “one person died”. Three people died when a tower collapsed in El Oro province.
The tremors were also felt in cities such as Quito, Manabí and Manta, according to users on social networks.