Ecuador: National Mourning Declared, Death Toll Rises

April 24, 2016

The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, declared today eight days of national mourning in honor of the victims of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the country last April 16.

The earthquake affected the whole country, especially, the province of Manabi and the southern region of Esmeraldas.

The death toll from the quake rose in the last hours to 654.

According to a report, until 18:30 on Saturday the number of missing people was 68, the number of injured people reached 16,601 and 25,640 people are staying in shelters. The text adds that 113 people were rescued alive.

The powerful earthquake destroyed or affected 9.730 buildings in Manta, Portoviejo, Pedernales, Canoeing, Jama, Bahia de Caraquez, Muisne and other cities in the provinces of Manabi and Esmeraldas.

According to the Ecuadorian authorities, once the stage of search and rescue of survivors is completed, the government will focus on providing temporary shelters for the victims, and then will start the reconstruction phase.

The national government sympathizes with the families of the victims and will provide all the support required, in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

Correa expressed his eternal gratitude to the international community and to the general public for the many expressions of solidarity due to what he called the worst tragedy suffered by Ecuador in almost 70 years.

https://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=cjm8md4nuktlg#4509197738

Source: Prensa Latina