An earthquake in Ecuador kills at least 1 person and causes major damage

A strong earthquake rocked the region around Ecuador’s second-largest city on Saturday, killing at least one person, damaging homes and buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.

The US Geological Survey reported a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in the coastal region of Guayas. It was centered about 80 kilometers south of Guayaquil, which anchors a metropolitan area of ​​over 3 million people.

The South American country’s emergency response agency, the Secretariat for Risk Management, reported that one person died in the Andean community of Cuenca. The victim was a passenger in a vehicle stuck under the rubble of a house.

In Guayaquil, about 170 miles (270 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Quito, authorities reported cracks in buildings and homes, as well as collapsed walls. Authorities have ordered the closure of three vehicle tunnels.

Videos shared on social media show people gathered in the streets of Guayaquil and nearby communities. People have reported fallen items inside their homes.

A pier sank in the town of Machala. The earthquake was also felt in northern Peru.

In 2019, a very powerful Magnitude 7.5 earthquake hits southern Ecuadornear the country’s border with Peru.