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Earthquake of 6.5 degrees with epicenter in Chimborazo was felt throughout the Ecuadorian territory
Posted On 07 Sep 2018
Ecuadornews:
An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 shook Ecuador on Thursday night, reported the Geophysical Institute.
The earthquake, of which authorities still do not report victims or damages, was recorded around 9:12 pm and its epicenter was located 6 km from the town of Cumandá, in the province of Chimborazo.
The strong earthquake originated about 90 km deep, the Geophysicist added in an official gazette. It was felt with intensity in Guayaquil, Milagro, Daule, Durán, Latacunga, Riobamba, Yaguachi, Quito, Manta, Portoviejo, Santa Elena and Esmeraldas.
#SISMO ID: igepn2018rncq Rev. 2018/09/06-21:12:05 TL Mag:6.5 Prof 82.53 km, a 6.25km de Cumanda,Chimborazo pic.twitter.com/TnQxDmT8ck
— Instituto Geofísico (@IGecuador) 7 de septiembre de 2018
“The characteristics of the earthquake do not meet the necessary conditions to generate a tsunami in the continental and insular region of Ecuador,” said the Oceanographic Institute of the Navy.
Meanwhile, the Secretariat of Risk Management called on citizens to “remain calm” after the earthquake, which generated fear among the population.
In the center of Guayaquil citizens who were at that time on the site took to the streets in the face of the intensity of the movement that also caused panic among the inhabitants of Durán, where some left their homes amid cries. Some people from the neighboring canton preferred to bet on the sidewalks until the commotion happened.
Until 23:10, at least 6 replicas had been registered. The strongest, of magnitude 4 degrees, occurred at 23:00, with epicenter at 17.59 km from La Libertad, Santa Elena and at a depth of 12.77 km.
One injured in Babahoyo
The Secretariat of Risk Management reported a wounded in the capital of the province of Los Rios, who suffered a fracture.
In addition, in the sector of Puertas Negras, in Babahoyo, there was a cut in electricity due to the falling of cables.
Damages in Bolívar
Héctor Cobo, risk management technician, reported that according to the reports of his colleagues in the province of Bolivar, there are structural damages in different buildings in several cantons as a result of the strong earthquake.
In the state university of Bolivar there are cracks in the walls, in Guanujo there is the collapse of the cemetery, while in Chimbo there is collapse of housing walls, Cobo added.
Also, Estefanía Illanes, assistant mayor of Guaranda, said that at home all the items on the shelves, shelves and tables went to the ground. “There is a lot of fright in the people so there may be aftershocks and for that reason we will leave in order to look for safer places.”
He noted that there are some structures with damages that are known as preliminary data and unofficially in the center of Guaranda.
“What I did see is that some houses were damaged, that tiles went to the ground and pieces of houses in the historic center are falling, I almost fell a piece, people are preparing to evacuate in any situation “He added.
He also indicated that as a result of the strong earthquake about half of the city was without electric power.
Fright in Manabí
The strong tremor also caused panic among the manabitas. Some of them who took to the streets after the earthquake, which revived the tragic moments that occurred on April 16, 2016.
Deisy Loor, a resident of the Columbus parish of Portoviejo, said the earthquake took them by surprise and some people abandoned their houses abruptly.
In Jipijapa, some guests of the local Pico de Oro were frightened by the event. Luis Franco, one of the collaborators of the local said that some of the customers chose to order food to go.
After the earthquake there were problems to communicate via mobile telephony. However, social networks and systems like WhatsApp served to communicate.
The quake felt strong in all the cantons of the north area of Manabí. Dozens of people took to the streets in Chone, also occupying the civic plaza and parks. René Moreira, in the El Paraíso neighborhood, said he will sleep in the street for security. The tremor shook also in Bahía de Caráquez, San Vicente, Jama, Pedernales, Calceta, Junín, Tosagua, El Carmen, Flavio Alfaro.
Eduardo Zambrano (76), who was already ready to sleep, went out on the street and leaned on his knees with relatives and neighbors and began to pray. In the meeting rooms of the union of drivers of Chone, the quake surprised the citizens who were in the wake of two deceased. After the shaking they went out into the street, crying and praying; some ran to their homes.
In El Oro
The strong earthquake was felt in Zaruma, Portovelo and other cantons of El Oro. Through the system ECU 911 Machala it was reported that no damage was recorded El telluric movement was also felt in Machala, the capital of Ourense where most of the population took to the streets for fear of a possible catastrophe. After several seconds of fright, the calm in the families resumed, while they continued sounding the alarms of the vehicles by the telluric movement that was felt throughout the country.
In Ambato
Dozens of citizens of the city of Ambato, especially those who live in high-rise buildings, took to the streets and open spaces like parks, after the strong tremor that caused fright on the night of this Thursday. Patricia Larrea, zonal coordinator 3 of the Secretariat of Risk Management (SGR), reported that for a moment the telephone lines collapsed, also that until now there were no reports of damage to structures, but that permanent contact was maintained to know what consequences had the telluric movement.
In Ambato, students of the Bolivar educational unit left and they went to the Cevallos park. “It was a tremendous shock because the tremor was prolonged and strong, so we had to evacuate and go to the house,” said Roberto N. Also from the cities near Ambato, such as Latacunga and La Maná in the province of Cotopaxi, as well As in Puyo, in Pastaza, reports were reported that strongly felt the tremor.
In Cuenca
The main reports were given through social networks, where it was described that the movement was presented in sectors such as Totoracocha, Plaza del Arte, The Tejar, the Historical Center, among others.
However, until 9:45 pm from the ECU 911 Austro, the Municipal Secretary of Risks and the Zonal Coordination of the General Secretariat of Risks, there were no reports of housing or people. Álvarez, inhabitant of the Totoracocha neighborhood, said he felt the tremor while resting and what most scared her was the tremor occurred in two moments. One long, one pause, and another smaller and stronger. His daughter and grandson went quickly to the street, but she had to stay on the second floor accompanying her husband, because due to his physical problems he could not go down the stairs. In Loja Citizenship took to the streets in this city, after beginning to feel the strong tremor that shook windows and move from one side to another several objects.
Great panic was also taking those who attended at that time to the fair of Loja, located to the north of the city. Others who were inside the national theater Benjamín Carrión reported through social networks and called their relatives to confirm their status. Users of one of the cellular operators wanted to connect, but could not.
His signal was interrupted. In other cities with a slight intensity, the earthquake was felt in the city of Esmeraldas. Jane Morales was in the doorway of her house with her children and felt that the bench where she was sitting was moving. “I thought I had dizziness but I saw that the neighbors left their homes,” he said.
In Tonsupa and Atacames they also reported feeling the quake. Eight emergency calls received the ECU 911 from Santo Domingo. In this city the movement also felt strong, which caused several citizens to abandon their homes. From towns such as Salinas, La Libertad and Chanduy, in the province of Santa Elena, the citizens reported that they felt the telluric movement in the north of Santa Elena, such as Montañita and Manglaralto, several residents that it was a strong movement and that some had to be put in a safe place.
At the moment there are no reports of damage. Located in the subduction zone of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, Ecuador is very prone to seismic activity. (I)
