Baku-APA. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook Ecuador's already devastated Pacific coast before dawn on Wednesday, terrifying residents and hindering rescuers searching for survivors of an even bigger quake at the weekend which killed more than 500 people, APA reports quoting Reuters.
The latest big tremor, which followed several hundred aftershocks from Saturday's 7.8 quake, hit 25 km (15 miles) off the island of Muisne on the northwest coast at a depth of 15 km (9 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said.
That was near the epicenter of Saturday's major quake, which leveled a long swath of the coastline and dealt a major blow to the oil-producing nation's already fragile economy.
Two strong tremors of about 30 seconds each woke people up and sent them running into the street.
"You can't imagine what a fright it was. 'Not again!,' I thought," said Maria Quinones in Pedernales, which bore the brunt of Saturday's disaster. On a highway outside town, children sat holding placards saying "food, please".
No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of deaths or major new damage. Ecuador's Geophysical Institute said there were 17 aftershocks.
Local media said rescue operations were temporarily suspended as hopes dwindled of finding anyone alive from Saturday's quake, which killed 525 people, according to a central government tally.
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