Death toll rises to 12 after strong earthquake in Ecuador that was felt even in northern Peru

The President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, informed today that the number of deaths caused by the earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on the Richter scale that was registered today, Saturday, near the town of Balao, in the Ecuadorian province of Guayas (southwest), has risen to 12.

“So far, the reports we have are 12 dead, 11 in the province of El Oro (south), one in the province of Azuay (south).”

“Some injured people are being treated in all hospitals; there are destroyed houses”, said the president to journalists when issuing an updated balance.

The statement was made during the installation of the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) in the city of Guayaquil, the capital of Guayas, which was urgently summoned to evaluate and determine immediate actions after the damages caused by the earthquake.

According to the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School, the earthquake occurred at 12:12 local time at a depth of 44 kilometers and 29.12 kilometers from Balao.

The earthquake was felt in 13 of 24 provinces of Ecuador, generating alarm among the population.

The Secretariat of Risk Management reported an initial balance of four deaths and material damage to homes, health centers, academic units, and public and private property.

According to the agency, the damage occurred in five provinces of the South American country: Guayas (southwest), Azuay (south), El Oro (south), Bolivar, and Chimborazo (center).

The Ecuadorian president informed that the situation is still being evaluated, and an inventory is being made of the health centers and hospitals that have been affected.

“We have decided that all ministries are activated” to meet the needs of the affected people, he said.

He specified that the Ministry of Housing would assist in reconstructing the affected houses while the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion would deliver aid to the victims.