At least 3 people have been killed and more than 47 injured after a strong and shallow earthquake registered by Ecuador's Geophysical Institute (IGEPN) as M5.7 hit Ecuador on December 19, 2016. The quake occurred at 07:11 UTC at a shallow depth of 5.2 km (3.2 miles). USGS registered it as M5.4 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M5.5 at the same depth.
According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 18.5 km (11.5 miles) SSW of Esmeraldas (population 165 2016), 38.4 km (23.9 miles) NE of Muisne (population 13 393), 61.6 km (38.3 miles) NNW of Rosa Zarate (population 42 121), and 96.9 km (60.2 miles) WSW of Valdez (population 11 441), Ecuador.
IGEPN recorded the quake off the coast of Atacames in Esmeraldas province, about 175 km (108.7 miles) NW of Quito, the capital. It was followed by 15 lesser-magnitude aftershocks (M3.4 - 4.5).
A tsunami alert was not issued but the institute warned that aftershocks could be expected.
This region was devastated by a massive M7.8 earthquake on April 16, 2016. That quake killed about 670 people.
Source : EriGIA007
An Earthquake of 5.7 strikes Ecuador
Source : UFOvni2012
