Ecuador president declares state of emergency following earthquake

MEXICO CITY

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso on Monday declared a state of emergency after a 6.8 magnitude tremor hit the South American country this weekend.

Saturday's earthquake, which had its epicenter in Balao, a small city in the province of Guaynas, has left 14 dead and 461 injured. According to initial reports, most of the deceased were in El Oro, a southern province bordering Peru, where local media has reported at least one fatal casualty.

On Sunday, authorities reported that at least 44 houses were destroyed in the aftermath of the earthquake. Official sources also said that 90 homes suffered different degrees of damage as well as 50 schools, 31 health centers, and 17 other public buildings.

Lasso's administration has said that the entire disaster protection network and bonds were made available for the most urgent areas affected by the tremor.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced it will make the necessary economic resources available for government entities to meet the needs of the citizens affected by the earthquake.

After the earthquake, Lasso spent the day visiting the most afflicted areas, reporting that the tremor had "severe impacts in El Oro, Guayas, and Azuay."

"We are carrying out an evaluation of the damage caused by the earthquake. The institutions were immediately activated, and contingency teams are mobilizing to provide full support to those who have been affected," said Lasso.