By NAN Contributor
News Americas, QUITO, Ecuador, Mon. April 18, 2016:Hundreds are injured and dead following the the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Esmeraldas province in Ecuador on April 16th.
More than 800 volunteers and staff from the Ecuadorian Red Cross have been activated he said on the heels of the quake which left some 525 people dead and more than 1,500 injured. A state of emergency has been declared even as roads have been badly damaged, bridges have collapsed, and power supplies have been affected.
The Ecuadorian Red Cross says food, water, sanitation and shelter could be the most urgent needs. Walter Cotte, the Americas Regional Director for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) added that there may also be urgent needs for maternal and obstetric care.
The U.S. State Department has extended its condolences for the tragic loss of life resulting from the earthquake  and said it stands by the people of Ecuador in this difficult time and are ready to assist in any way they can.
World Vision has also deployed an emergency response staff to assist with aid distributions and has set up a donation website.
The Ecuador quake comes after two powerful earthquakes hit Japan last week.
