Boys cry as he finds out that their sister has been killed in an earthquake in Pedernales, Ecuador, April 17, 2016.
A police officer stands on debris, next to buildings destroyed by an earthquake in Pedernales, Ecuador, April 17, 2016. The earthquake flattened buildings and buckled highways along its Pacific coast, sending the Andean nation into a state of emergency.
Residents wait in the streets next to a collapsed building after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Ecuadoran northern coastal region, in the town of Pedernales, Ecuador, April 17, 2016.
Volunteers rescue a body from a destroyed house after a massive earthquake in Pedernales, April 17, 2016.
People sleep in a park after an earthquake in the city of Guayaquil, April 17, 2016.
Rescue workers work to pull out survivors trapped in a collapsed building after a huge earthquake struck, in the city of Manta, April 17, 2016.
Members of Ecuadoran emergency services check a car after a bridge collapsed due to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, in the city of Guayaquil, April 16, 2016.
An hotel barely stands after an earthquake in the town of Manta, Ecuador, April 16, 2016.
Police look at a car crushed under a collapsed overpass in Guayaquil, Ecuador, April 16, 2016.
A patient waits outside a clinic that was evacuated after tremors in Cali, Colombia, April 16, 2016.
Rescue team members and patients react outside a clinic that was evacuated after tremors were felt resulting from an earthquake in Ecuador, in Cali, April 16, 2016.
Patients wait outside a clinic that was evacuated after tremors were felt resulting from an earthquake in Cali, Colombia, April 16, 2016.
A powerful earthquake struck Ecuador Saturday, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 1,500. The earthquake in the South American country happened after a series of earthquakes struck Japan -- on the other side of the world.
President Rafael Correa was in Rome, Italy when the quake struck. He quickly returned home. He said the city of Pedernales -- in Manabi Province -- is, in his words, destroyed. About 40,000 people live there.
Officials say they believe the number of dead will increase as aid workers reach isolated areas.
The earthquake was felt 170 kilometers away in the capital Quito. People rushed into the streets.
Luis Alberto Otero is a journalist in Quito. He told VOA that “everything moved.” He said, “I had to hold up the TV so it wouldn’t fall."
Otero added that residents of the capital city are used to earthquakes, but he was scared because it lasted a long time.
Earthquakes and aftershocks in Japan
In Japan, a series of earthquakes and aftershocks caused the deaths of at least 41 people in the southern part of the country. Eleven people are missing.
More than 800 people have been hurt since the first earthquake struck on Thursday, causing buildings to collapse. It also caused fires and landslides.
Stronger earthquakes struck Friday and Saturday.
Officials believe people are trapped or buried under collapsed buildings or homes. Strong aftershocks continue to be felt in Kumamoto Prefecture. Rescuers must also deal with harsh weather conditions.
On Sunday, the Japanese government sent 25,000 Self Defense Force troops to help people on the main southern island of Kyushu. The U.S. also sent Marines and supplies to help.
Some small communities cannot be reached, so officials do not have complete damage reports.
Rescuers and a search dog check the damage around a landslide area caused by earthquakes in Minamiaso, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, April 17, 2016.
A man walks a damaged area by earthquakes in Minamiaso, Kumamoto prefecture, April 17, 2016.
"Rice, Water, Preserved Food and HELP'" written on the ground at a welfare center for the aged after an earthquake in Mifune town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, in this aerial view photo taken by Kyodo, April 17, 2016.
A woman prays in front of the historic Aso Shrine collapsed by powerful earthquakes in Aso, Kumamoto prefecture, April 17, 2016.
A woman cries as she looks at her collapsed house caused by an earthquake in Mashiki town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo, April 17, 2016.
Rescuers check the damage area caused by earthquakes in Minamiaso, Kumamoto prefecture, April 17, 2016.
People line up to get food and water supplies at an elementary school after an earthquake in Mashiki town, Kumamoto prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo April 17, 2016.
A man walks at a damaged area by earthquakes in Minamiaso, Kumamoto prefecture, April 17, 2016.
Evacuees collect spring water in plastic containers in Aso, Kumamoto prefecture, April 17, 2016.
A woman is carried away by rescue workers after being rescued from her collapsed home caused by an earthquake in Mashiki town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo, April 16, 2016.
Parents cry after confirming that their daughter was found dead at their collapsed house after earthquakes in Mashiki town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo, April 16, 2016.
A car hangs on a collapsed road caused by an earthquakes in Minamiaso town, Kumamoto prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo, April 16, 2016.
About 200,000 people have fled their homes because of the damage. They also fear there will be more quakes or aftershocks. Earthquake experts believe there will be dangerous aftershocks in southern Japan for more than a week.
Car manufacturers Toyota and Nissan, and electronics manufacturer Sony, have closed factories in the area because of the damage. Many large companies had built factories in the area because experts believed it was less likely to have strong earthquakes than other parts of Japan.
I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise
VOANews.com reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in This Story
aftershock – n. a smaller earthquake that takes place after a larger one
landslide – n. a large mass of rocks and earth that suddenly and quickly moves down the side of a mountain or hill
isolated – adj. separate from others
