Powerful earthquake off Ecuador’s coast

(KRON) A 6.8 magnitude earthquake has hit Ecuador’s coast.

Prelim M6.8 earthquake near the coast of Ecuador May-18 16:46 UTC, updates https://t.co/Q2h3xgVUni

– USGS Big Quakes (@USGSBigQuakes) May 18, 2016

KRON4’s Real Time Earthquake Maps

Wednesday’s quakes comes just one month after a devastating earthquake flattened the Ecuadorian beach town of Pedernales, people are still living in tarp shelters and schools remain closed. Just a third of the rubble has been swept from the streets.

Some of those whose homes were wrecked survive by sifting through trash and panhandling. And some go hungry.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake on April 16 killed 660 and initially left tens of thousands homeless. Aid poured in from around the world, but officials say more than 7,000 people remain without a home.

Ecuador was already in one of Latin America’s deepest recessions. President Rafael Correa has hiked taxes to fund the recovery but says it will take years to rebuild the beach towns and tourist hubs leveled by the quake.