6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off the Coast of Ecuador, City Devastated, No Confirmed Casualties Reported

6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off the Coast of Ecuador, City Devastated, No Confirmed Casualties Reported

According to Al Jazeera's report, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) has reported a 6.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Ecuador.

The earthquake had a depth of 23 kilometers (14.2 miles), according to EMSC. Images shared online show significant damage to various buildings following the earthquake. However, no confirmed reports of casualties have been received so far.

Previous Earthquakes

Ecuador has a long and painful history of earthquakes.

In 2013, an earthquake that struck northern Peru and southern Ecuador killed at least 14 people, destroying homes, schools, and health clinics.

Three years later, in 2016, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake — the strongest to hit Ecuador since 1979 — killed at least 77 people and injured more than 500.

Ecuador is located on the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire," an area known for its geological and volcanic activity that encircles the ocean.

Ecuador is situated on the boundary between two massive tectonic plates, the Nazca and South American plates, which create friction as they move towards each other at a rate of approximately 65 millimeters (2.5 inches) per year.