A powerful earthquake rocked southern Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, leaving at least 15 people dead and more than a hundred injured. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the 6.8-magnitude quake struck near the Pacific coast, about 80 kilometers south of Ecuador’s major city, Guayaquil.
Ecuador suffered the heaviest toll, with 14 fatalities, while one person was killed in Peru. Local authorities confirmed that at least 126 people were injured as buildings collapsed, roads cracked, and residents fled into the streets in panic.
The quake’s force was felt across multiple provinces, triggering emergency responses and structural inspections. Rescue teams are working to assess damage and assist those trapped or displaced.
This region of South America is no stranger to seismic activity — but Saturday’s quake is one of the deadliest in recent years, reigniting concerns about infrastructure vulnerabilities along the Pacific Ring of Fire.