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Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Ecuador on Saturday. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.8. It occurred at a depth of 66.4 km (41.3 mi), about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) from the city of Balao in Guayas province. So far, the news of death of four people has come to light due to the earthquake. In addition, three people have been killed in Machala and a two-storey house has collapsed. Also many buildings have been damaged. While electricity has failed in many areas. Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso has appealed to the people to maintain peace in a tweet.
The epicenter was centered about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second largest city. In videos shared on social media, people can be seen gathering on the streets of Guayaquil. Tremors were also felt in northern Peru.
The quake caused damage in two other provinces, including the collapse of a wall at a supermarket, and the quake was felt in more than half of the country’s 24 provinces, the secretariat said. The agency said state-run oil company Petrocuador suspended several activities as a precaution.
