Galapagos Faced Intense Hours of Uncertainty

Through social networks, the Presidency of the Republic announced the destruction of one of the floating docks located at island of Santa Cruz in Galapagos.

According to reports, the intensity of the waves caused the ocean level to increase the tide and the water to enter to the police department.

The authorities managed to evacuate people to higher areas where community shelters were built.  About 150 people disregarded the evacuation order and then asked for help. Captive animals were promptly relocated to the surveillance sites in areas.

The sea began to retreat on the shores of the Galapagos Islands at about 6pm (continental time). At around 8pm it was reported a sea receded of about 30 m., few minutes later, it was reported that the water had reached 60 meters into downtown.

Approximately at 8:30pm, via Twitter, it was notified the existence of a 5 to 6 meters height wave that snared against the coast of San Cristobal, while in Santa Cruz the waves reached 4 meters height.

President Rafael Correa, assures that once the danger alert is passed people will need to keep distant from the coast for a couple of hours, as precaution.