QUITO, Ecuador (AP) – A powerful, 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook Ecuador’s central coast on Saturday, cracking buildings and rattling homes as far away as the capital of Quito.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered 27 kilometers (16 miles) south-southeast of Muisne, Ecuador, in a touristic area of fishing ports. It had a depth of 19 kilometers.
Local media reported that at least one house and an overpass had collapsed in the port city of Guayaquil.
In the capital, the quake was felt for about 40 seconds and people fled buildings to the streets in fear. Quito is located about 170 kilometers (105 miles) from the quake’s epicenter.