Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Ecuador causes widespread damage
Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast, no tsunami threat
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near the Pacific coast of Ecuador, close to the city of Esmeraldas, early on Friday morning at around 6:44 AM local time. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of approximately 23 to 35 kilometers and was felt across at least 10 provinces, including the capital Quito.
The earthquake resulted in injuries to at least 20 to 32 people and caused widespread damage. Over 800 buildings were reported damaged, including 179 homes destroyed and 716 more damaged, along with damage to public buildings such as healthcare centers, schools, a military building, roads, and a bridge. About 135 families were affected, and power outages impacted around 80% of homes in the region.
The tremor also disrupted oil infrastructure: operations at the Esmeraldas refinery-the largest in Ecuador with a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day-and the SOTE pipeline were temporarily suspended as a precaution. However, export activities were reportedly unaffected.
President Daniel Noboa responded by deploying government ministers to the affected areas to coordinate humanitarian aid, establish shelters, and provide assistance to those impacted. He assured citizens of the government’s support and commitment to recovery efforts.
Despite the severity of the quake and damage, no tsunami warning was issued or was later canceled after an initial alert. The earthquake is attributed to the tectonic activity where the Nazca and South American plates converge, a region known for frequent seismic events.
The 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador caused significant injuries, structural damage, power outages, and temporary disruption of oil operations, prompting a swift government response to aid affected communities.
