The USGS rated the tremor an "orange alert", stating "major casualties are likely...
Digital Desk: The 6.8 magnitude earthquake rattled southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon, killing at least 12 people, as per CNN, citing government officials.
"Notable quake, preliminary information: M 6.7 - 6 km NNE of Balao, Ecuador," the US Geological Survey Earthquake tweeted.
According to Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso's communications department, 11 people were killed in the province of El Oro, while one person died in the province of Azuay.
Authorities had stated that a person in Azuay was killed when a wall collapsed onto a car and that at least three of the deceased in El Oro were killed when a security camera tower collapsed, as said by CNN.
The injured were being treated at hospitals, as stated by the Presidency, who did not include any other information.
The USGS issued an "orange alert" for the tremor, stating that "substantial casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread. Previous incidents with this alert level have necessitated a regional or national reaction," the USGS stated. According to CNN, it also assessed the damage and economic losses that were possible.
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