An earthquake in Ecuador’s Guayas province, not far from the country’s southern border with Peru, has so far left 15 dead and 400 injured, according to the latest reports from local media.
The magnitude-6.8 earthquake centered in Balao, less than 100 kilometers from Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second largest city. Tremors were felt as far away as Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, and northern Chile.
Locals reported that the sandy soil in the area “turned to liquid” or “jelly,” momentarily losing its capacity to support structures and leading to the collapse of several buildings, while several aftershocks raised fears of further damage. Experts say there is no risk of tsunamis.
In Ecuador, home to 14 of the 15 victims, President Guillermo Lasso promised housing solutions for the nearly 200 families who lost their homes and said he would ask multilateral credit organizations for emergency funds.
The affected countries are located in an area of the Andean region that is highly prone to earthquakes. In 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador, killing 670 people and destroying millions of dollars of vital infrastructure.
Countries elsewhere in South America, such as Brazil, offered aid to Ecuador. President Lasso also announced that he would be asking the U.S. for help installing a provisional bridge to replace one recently destroyed by rains in the country’s north.
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