15 Dead, Over 500 People Affected After Earthquake Rocks Ecuador and Peru

A boy and his family were among the debris following the earthquake in Isla Puna, Ecuador. March 19, 2023. Image source: REUTERS/Maria Fernanda Landin

On Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023, Northern Peru and 14 provinces in Ecuador were affected by extreme weather and a 6.8 magnitude earthquake. 

Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso released a video report on Sunday speaking on the impact of the earthquake on Ecuador. He reported 14 casualties, 460 injured, 89 people whose homes were destroyed, and 192 more people who were affected negatively. Heavy rains, in conjunction with the earthquake, have also damaged roads, bridges, and other important private and public infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola reported one casualty, a 4-year-old girl who died after her house collapsed during the earthquake. Peru’s transportation and essential services infrastructure remained intact with only minor damage , however, Otarola reported that nine homes were damaged to the extent that rendered them uninhabitable. 

According to the U.S Geological Survey, the earthquake’s center was located just off the Pacific Coast. One of Ecuador’s most affected regions includes Guayaquil, its second-largest city, while in Peru the communities bordering Ecuador were impacted the largest, namely the region of Tumbes. 

According to the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador, the earthquake consisted of a potent initial quake subsequently followed by two aftershocks within the hour. Peruvian authorities, on the other hand, reported a quake in Peru’s northernmost region and no immediate damage or harm made to communities or other structures. 

A citizen living near the epicenter in Ecuador, Ernesto Alvarado, spoke on his experience during the earthquake, recounting how “his family ran out into the streets. We were very scared”  upon seeing houses collapsing around him.

The aftermath of rubble from a collapsing building destroying a car in Cuenca, Ecuador, March 18, 2023. Image source: REUTERS/Rafa Idrovo Espinoza

In Ecuador, President Lasso’s response included announcing a state of emergency, starting on Mar. 20th, and lasting 60 days. The policy will facilitate the mobilization of economic and healthcare resources to the affected communities, and enable the government to repair infrastructure more efficiently. 

The announcement of the state of emergency accompanied Lasso’s commitment to providing “full support to repair the damage as soon as possible, for which the Ministry of Finance has allocated the necessary resources.”

The resources that Lasso has contributed so far influence government construction of social housing, and the introduction of a new three-month rental bonus for communities who have lost their homes.  

The effort to rebuild is also motivated by the desire to address the damage sustained by Petroecuador, one of Ecuador’s most crucial state-run oil companies. They note electrical failures and substantial infrastructure damage affecting six oil fields and an offshore platform near the epicenter, causing production to drop by 17,400 barrels of oil and 20.5 million cubic feet per day. 

Ecuador and Peru are countries near the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region in the Pacific Ocean susceptible to the shifting of continental plates. Ecuador suffered an earthquake as recently as 2016, affecting northern and more densely populated parts of Ecuador. Officials reported over 600 casualties; much more intense than this time around.

Earthquake troubles come at a bad time, particularly for Ecuador. Recently journalists in Ecuador have been at risk due to several bomb threats after receiving envelopes containing small electronic devices equipped with explosives. Lasso and the Attorney General have promised a joint investigation in order to protect “the freedom of expression and suppress any attempts to intimidate journalism in the country.”