Magnitude 6.1 quake hits off coast of reeling Ecuador

AFP, PEDERNALES: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador on Wednesday, just four days after another, more powerful quake sparked devastation and killed nearly 500 people, with 1,700 others reported missing.
The epicenter of the latest quake, which struck at 8:33 GMT at a depth of 15.7 kilometers (9.8 miles), was located 25 kilometers west of Muisne and 73 kilometers west-southwest of Propicia, the US Geological Survey said.
Authorities in Quito called the latest earthquake an aftershock. No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
It came with the South American nation already reeling from Saturday’s 7.8-magnitude quake that hit Ecuador’s coast in a zone popular with tourists, not too far from the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake.
The death toll from that quake, currently at 480, was set to rise sharply after authorities warned that 1,700 people were still missing. Sniffer dogs and mechanical diggers were busy at work in the wreckage of coastal towns such as Pedernales and Manta as the stench of rotting bodies grew stronger under the baking sun.

 

Magnitude 6.1 quake hits off coast of reeling Ecuador

AFP, PEDERNALES: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador on Wednesday, just four days after another, more powerful quake sparked devastation and killed nearly 500 people, with 1,700 others reported missing. The epicenter of the latest quake, which struck at 8:33 GMT at a depth of 15.7 kilometers (9.8 miles), was located 25 kilometers west of Muisne and 73 kilometers west-southwest of Propicia, the US Geological Survey said. Authorities in Quito called the latest earthquake an aftershock. No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. It came with the South American nation already reeling from Saturdays 7.8-magnitude quake that hit Ecuadors coast in a zone popular with tourists, not too far from the epicenter of Wednesdays quake. The death toll from that quake, currently at 480, was set to rise sharply after authorities warned that 1,700 people were still missing. Sniffer dogs and mechanical diggers were busy at work in the wreckage of coastal towns such as Pedernales and Manta as the stench of rotting bodies grew stronger under the baking sun.