 "6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Ecuador's coast, damages buildings and disrupts power")
According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Ecuador’s coastal city of Esmeraldas on Friday, damaging infrastructure and briefly affecting oil operations.
The quake occurred at a depth of 23 kilometers, and authorities confirmed there would be no tsunami threat.
A preliminary government report indicated that one person was injured, and several public and private structures sustained damage. Power outages were also reported in some areas following the tremor.
President Daniel Noboa, in a post on social media platform X, said the government would work to set up shelters, deliver humanitarian aid kids and ”assist with everything our people need.”
State oil company Petroecuador said it had suspended operations at the Esmeraldas refinery and SOTE pipeline as a preventative measure following the quake, without detailing potential production impact.
Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute, which had estimated the quake’s magnitude at 6.0, also reported a second earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 minutes later in the province of Guayas.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
