Earthquake in Ecuador: Search dogs deployed to find people.

(Baonghean.vn) - The latest death toll from the April 16 earthquake in Ecuador has risen to 262. This is the largest earthquake in Ecuador in a decade, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. The tremor occurred off the Pacific coast and affected approximately 16 million people in the Andes region.

Scenes of devastation after the earthquake in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa had to temporarily halt his trip to Italy to immediately fly back to his country to directly manage the emergency situation.

He said the top priority right now is rescuing those still trapped under the rubble after the earthquake. Correa declared on national radio: “Everything can be rebuilt, except human lives. This is the greatest pain we are suffering.”

According to the latest statistics from the Ecuadorian government, 262 people have died and 2,500 others have been injured as a result of Saturday night's earthquake. Coastal areas near the epicenter were hit hardest, particularly Pedernales, a popular tourist destination in Ecuador.

Police officers and sniffer dogs have been deployed to search for people buried in the rubble.

Local authorities reported more than 160 aftershocks, mostly in the area around Pedernales. Ecuador has now declared a state of emergency in six provinces.

The earthquake not only caused immense loss of life and property, but it also dealt a severe blow to Ecuador's already struggling economy, which was already reeling from falling oil prices. The sharp drop in global oil prices has led to predictions that Ecuador's economic growth this year will be virtually zero.

Currently, rescue efforts are actively underway in Ecuador. Approximately 13,500 security personnel and sniffer dogs have been deployed to assist in rescue operations and maintain order. $600 million from multilateral loans has been authorized for emergency use.

Thanh Hien

(According to Reuters)