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Ecuador earthquake: death toll rises to 480, state media says

19 April 2016 20:48 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The death toll from Saturday's magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Ecuador now is at least 480, with 2,500 more injured, Ecuador's state-run Andes news service reported Tuesday, citing the country's Interior Ministry, APA reports quoting CNN.

Rescue crews and aid from Latin America and beyond have poured into the South American nation since the earthquake, which caused widespread damage throughout the country, but especially on the coast. Authorities have made finding survivors a priority, but have warned the number of dead is likely to rise.

The earthquake is the deadliest to hit Ecuador since March 1987, when 1,000 people died in a 7.2-magnitude quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.