Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
International

Two Canadians Dead Among 233 Killed In 7.8-Magnitude Ecuador Quake

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Apr, 2016 12:30 PM
    OTTAWA — Federal officials say two Canadians are among at least 233 people killed by a devastating earthquake in Ecuador.
     
    Global Affairs Canada says consular officials are in contact with the families of the two Canadians, who have not been named.
     
    The 7.8-magnitude earthquake is the strongest to hit Ecuador since 1979, levelling buildings and buckling highways along the Pacific Coast of the South American country.
     
    The quake was centred about 170 kilometres northwest of the capital, Quito.
     
    President Rafael Correa has declared a national emergency and some 10,000 armed forces have been deployed to the earthquake region in addition to 4,600 national police.
     
    Global Affairs Canada has asked friends and relatives of those known to be travelling in Ecuador to contact their emergency response centre.
     
    "I am saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life stemming from Saturday's devastating earthquake near the central coast of Ecuador which has already cost the lives of at least 233, including two Canadians," Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said in a release Sunday.
     
    "Canadian officials at our embassy in Quito are reaching out to Canadian citizens in-country and providing assistance to Canadians affected by the earthquake. We will continue to work with local authorities to assess impact and needs on the ground."
     
    Reports out of Ecuador said rescuers are struggling to reach survivors trapped in the ruins of fallen buildings.
     
    Shanty towns and cheaply constructed brick and concrete homes were reduced to rubble along the quake's path, while in Guayaquil a shopping centre's roof fell down and a collapsed highway overpass crushed a car. In Manta, the airport closed after the control tower collapsed, injuring an air traffic control worker and a security guard.
     
    The quake was felt in neighbouring Colombia and more than 135 aftershocks followed, including a magnitude-5.6 aftershock.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Canada Will Offer $42 Million To Help Protect Nuclear Material From Terrorists: PM Trudeau

    Canada Will Offer $42 Million To Help Protect Nuclear Material From Terrorists: PM Trudeau
    World leaders watched a video of a hypothetical nuclear terrorist plot Friday as they closed out a two-day summit dedicated to ensuring such a calamity never comes to pass.

    Canada Will Offer $42 Million To Help Protect Nuclear Material From Terrorists: PM Trudeau

    India failed to provide evidence about Pathankot attack: Pakistan

    New Delhi failed to provide evidence to Islamabad's Joint Investigation Team, visiting India to probe the Pathankot attack, to prove their allegation that Pakistan based militants stormed the Air Force base, sources close to the team said.

    India failed to provide evidence about Pathankot attack: Pakistan

    India, Canada Made For Each Other: PM Modi Tells Justin Trudeau

    India, Canada Made For Each Other: PM Modi Tells Justin Trudeau
    Modi and Trudeau met on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.

    India, Canada Made For Each Other: PM Modi Tells Justin Trudeau

    Jirga In Pakistan Settles Rape Case For 30 Mounds Of Wheat

    Jirga In Pakistan Settles Rape Case For 30 Mounds Of Wheat
    A case was registered with the local police in Ghulam Nabi Shah area of Umerkot district a few days ago on the complaint of the 14-year-old victim's brother, Sajan Shaikh.

    Jirga In Pakistan Settles Rape Case For 30 Mounds Of Wheat

    Sponsors Of Brussels Killers Suffer Crushing Defeat: Why Is West Silent?

    Sponsors Of Brussels Killers Suffer Crushing Defeat: Why Is West Silent?
    The biggest military defeat that ISIS has suffered in more than two years - the recapture of the Roman city of Empress Zenobia, and we are silent. Yes, folks, the bad guys won, didn’t they? Otherwise, we would all be celebrating, wouldn’t we?

    Sponsors Of Brussels Killers Suffer Crushing Defeat: Why Is West Silent?

    At Dinner With Obama, Modi Warns About State Actors Abetting Terrorists

    At Dinner With Obama, Modi Warns About State Actors Abetting Terrorists
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned global leaders from over 50 nations gathered here to discuss nuclear terrorism that state actors working with nuclear traffickers and terrorists present the greatest risk.

    At Dinner With Obama, Modi Warns About State Actors Abetting Terrorists