Southern Ecuador earthquake kills at least 12

At slightest 12 radical person died aft a almighty earthquake struck the confederate seashore of Ecuador.

Buildings person been damaged successful respective cities pursuing the 6.7 magnitude quake, which deed astatine astir midday section clip (17:00 GMT).

The confederate state of El Oro was the worst affected, wherever exigency services person reported radical stay trapped wrong collapsed houses.

Eleven deaths were successful El Oro and 1 successful Azuay province, authorities said.

Machala and Cuenca were among the cities that suffered harm to buildings and vehicles, arsenic exigency services rushed to assistance people.

The epicentre was adjacent Balao, astir 50 miles (80km) from Ecuador's second-largest city, Guayaquil, wherever astir 3 cardinal radical live.

"I went retired into the thoroughfare due to the fact that I saw radical starting to tally successful panic, getting retired of their cars," Magaly Escandon, a businessowner successful Cuenca, told the AFP quality agency.

President Guillermo Lasso asked Ecuadoreans to stay calm arsenic officials measure the damage.

"Emergency teams are mobilising to connection each their enactment to those who person been affected," helium said.

Mr Lasso's bureau besides confirmed that injured radical were being treated successful hospital, but did not connection immoderate further details.

Several roads person been blocked by landslides, portion respective homes, acquisition buildings and wellness centres person been damaged, authorities said.

One idiosyncratic was reported killed successful the metropolis of Cuenca aft a partition collapsed onto their car, portion 3 radical died erstwhile a information camera operation came down connected Jambelí Island.

There person besides been reports of the earthquake being felt successful respective different cities, including Manabi, Manta and the superior Quito.

This is the strongest quake to deed Ecuador since 2016, erstwhile astir 700 radical died and thousands were injured.

Officials successful Peru accidental the quake was felt successful bluish regions of the country, but determination were nary contiguous reports of casualties oregon damage.