Ecuador 7.8 earthquake claims 240 lives and injures over 500

240 people are confirmed dead after a powerful earthquake 7.8 magnitude hit Ecuador, early on Saturday evening. Over 500 people are injure in the quake which was felt across the country. Severe damages are reported with a bridge collapsing as far south as Guayaquil about 300 km (190 miles) away, as entire towns are flattened. Coastal areas in the north-west were the epicenter and rescue operations are underway involving 10,000 troops and 3,500 police. Rescue efforts, are hampered by landslides. Local people are using bare hands to try to dig out survivors. The quake is Ecuador’s largest since 1979 with over 130 aftershocks. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at fairly shallow depth of 19.2km (11.9 miles) about 27km from Muisne in sparsely populated areas.

The country sits on the arc of high seismic activity that extends around Pacific basin.