The earthquake was centered in the Pacific Ocean 13 miles (20.9 kilometers) northeast of the city of Esmeraldas, and it had a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers), according to the United States Geological Survey.
Ecuador’s risk management office said on X that the earthquake was felt in at least 10 provinces, but it’s sOverall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist.
The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall and adobe block construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.till monitoring and assessing the situation.
Some local media showed images of Esmeraldas, the coastal town in the Pacific closest to the epicenter, where the facades of some houses suffered damage.
Esmeraldas is more than 183 miles (296 kilometers) northwest of Quito, Ecuador’s capital.
Ecuadorean authorities initially issued a tsunami alert for the Pacific coast, but it was cancelled a little late
AFP reporters felt the shake before 7:00 am local time (1200 GMT).
Monitors said the epicenter was near the Pacific coast of Esmeraldas, at a depth of about 35 kilometers (22 miles).
There were no immediate reports of victims or severe damage and Ecuadoran authorities said there was no tsunami risk.
Ecuador sits on one of the most geologically active zones on Earth, and the fault between the Nazca and South American plates runs along its coast.
