A magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook Ecuador Saturday night, killing at least 41 people and likely wounding dozens more.
The tremor struck about 108 miles northeast of Quito, the capital. Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas said the death toll is likely to rise in a televised address to the nation.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Ecuador after the quake, although severe flooding appears unlikely.
Early reports on social media showed inhabitants in some towns near the earthquake’s epicenter without power.
Sin electricidad en ciudadela en Samborondón. Habitantes se resguardan a la espera de que la situación se normalice. pic.twitter.com/Cn24UXp3uU
— Bessy Granja Barriga (@bessygranjaOK) April 17, 2016
President Rafael Correa, who was attending a conference in Rome, said via Twitter he would immediately return home.
Lo más pronto que podemos regresar es 10h00 hora de Roma, 3h00 hora de Ecuador.
— Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael) April 17, 2016
Llegaremos en la tarde.
¡Ánimo!
Ecuador borders the “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active arc that curves around the Pacific Ocean from Australia to South America. Another country along the arc, Japan, also saw large earthquakes last week, killing dozens.
This story will be updated with more information.
