Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes off coast of Ecuador – EMSC

Published: Mar 18, 2023, 17:36 UTC•1min read

(Reuters) – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador on Saturday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.

The quake was at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles), EMSC said.

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru)

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On the evening of the 12th of May, 2020 a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported the earthquake which struck at 17:22 UTC on the oceanic trench of the Galapagos region.

The epicenter of the tremor was located 142 kilometers (88 miles) off the coast of the island of Santa Cristina at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Initial reports suggested that there is a risk of a tsunami although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) registered the earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 and locational coordinates of 8.793 degrees South and 90.144 degrees West. After the initial tremor was reported, the USGS issued an alert which stated that light shaking could be felt in the Yachana Region of Ecuador.

Given the remote location of the epicenter, there have been no reports of loss of life or damage to infrastructure as a result of the earthquake. With no tectonic plates at the location of the underwater tremor, the quake is likely to have been a result of slippage along the oceanic trench within the tectonic ‘convergent boundary’ zone of the region.

As confirmation of the potential threats of a tsunami remain unconfirmed, it is important that the necessary safety arrangements are made if the event does occur to ensure the continued safety of the island’s population. As yet, the Earth’s crust along the Galapagos arc has shown no further signs of seismic activity, though it is important to remain vigilant.