At least 77 people have died in a magnitude-7.8 earthquake that was centered near the coast of Ecuador, the country's vice president, Jorge Glas, told the nation Saturday night in a televised address. Severe damage is reported in many areas, with a bridge destroyed as far south as Guayaquil about 300km (190 miles) away. A state of emergency has been declared in six provinces and the National Guard has been mobilised. Glas said that preventive evacuations in coastal areas were underway because of possible tsunami risks. The quake also shook buildings in the capital, Quito.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the tremor was centered about 27 kilometers (16.8 miles) south-southeast of Muisne. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a threat forecast for some parts of Ecuador, saying waves could could reach 1 meter (3 feet) above tide level. An earlier warning for other nations with coastlines on the Pacific was canceled.
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