Friday, December 5, 2025
Search

Major Earthquake Shakes Ecuador

Mark Silva

April 17, 2016

Ecuador earthquake supermarket aftermath 2016-04-16
A Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes off the shore of Ecuador 27km South Southeast of Muisne, 19.2 km deep. According to the USGS (Earthquake Hazards Program) from the U.S. Geological Survey, seven earthquakes above Magnitude 4.5 have hit Ecuador in the last 7 hours. The USGS monitors and reports earthquakes and research the causes and effects of earthquakes. The strongest Ecuador earthquake was magnitude 7.8 at 23:58:37 UTC. The last big earthquake in Ecuador was on 12 August 2010 with a 7.1 magnitude.

Above 4.5 earthquakes in Ecuador in the last 8 hours

MagnitudeLocationDateDepth
4.844km NNW of Bahia de Caraquez2016-04-17 04:02:08 UTC10.0 km
4.533km NW of Pedernales2016-04-17 03:05:33 UTC10.0 km
4.834km NNE of Bahia de Caraquez2016-04-17 02:18:01 UTC10.0 km
4.543km SW of Muisne2016-04-17 00:59:07 UTC27.3 km
5.434km N of Bahia de Caraquez2016-04-17 00:29:32 UTC14.2 km
7.827km SSE of Muisne2016-04-16 23:58:37 UTC19.2 km
4.821km N of Pedernales2016-04-16 23:47:44 UTC33.0 km
Ecuador president, Rafael Correa, has already declared a national emergency.
"I just signed a decree of emergency and national mobilization. Today, more united than ever. In our infinite love to the families of the deceased." Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador, on Twitter

Tsunami threat dismissed

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the previously tsunami threat is now out of the question.
"BASED ON ALL DATA AVAILABLE TO THIS CENTER... THE TSUNAMI THREAT FROM THIS EARTHQUAKE HAS NOW MOSTLY PASSED. ANY REMAINING THREAT SHOULD BE EVALUATED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN IMPACTED AREAS." Source Pacific Tsunami Warning Center