Strong Earthquake Hits Ecuador’s Coast, Injuring Dozens and Damaging Buildings

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador’s coastal city of Esmeraldas early Friday morning, injuring at least 20 people and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The quake hit at 6:44 a.m. local time (9:44 GMT) at a depth of 30 kilometers, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre. The tremor caused significant structural damage to homes and public buildings, widespread power outages, and forced a temporary halt to operations at some oil facilities.

Image: Credited to BBC

President Daniel Noboa responded quickly, dispatching his entire cabinet to the affected area to help coordinate relief efforts. "We’re with you," he wrote on social media, promising shelters, emergency supplies, and full support for recovery.

Local resident Andrés Mafare, 36, was walking to the port when he heard a loud crack followed by intense shaking. Fearing for his family’s safety, he rushed home. "I ran like crazy," he said. "When I got here, I saw my house had collapsed."

Officials reported that about 80% of homes lost electricity due to the quake. Petroecuador, the national oil company, temporarily shut down its Esmeraldas refinery as a precaution.

Photos from the scene show houses split open, roofs caved in, and debris scattered across the streets, with residents left to assess the damage under drooping power lines.

Ecuador is no stranger to seismic activity. Just last year, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake claimed at least 15 lives. The country still remembers the devastating 7.8-magnitude quake of 2016, which killed over 700 people and left thousands injured.