(CNN) At least 16 People died by an order of magnitude The 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon, government officials said.
The earthquake struck near the southern city of Baláo and was more than 65 km (almost 41 miles) deep. according to the United States Geological Survey.
An estimated 381 people were injured in the quake, the General Secretariat for Communications of the Presidency of Ecuador tweeted on its official account.
At least 11 people died in El Oro province. At least one other death has been reported in Azuay province, according to the Ecuadorian president’s communications department. In an earlier statement, authorities said the person in Azuay was killed when a wall collapsed on a car and that at least three of the victims in El Oro died when a surveillance camera tower collapsed.
Residents look at a building that collapsed following an earthquake in Machala, Ecuador, March 18, 2023.
Injured people are being treated in hospitals, the presidency added, but gave no further details.
The USGS gave the quake an “orange alert” and said “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
“Past events at this alert level have required a regional or national response,” the USGS added. Estimated damage and economic losses are also possible.
Relatives of a CNN producer in the western port city of Guayaquil said they felt “very strong” shaking.
View of a flooding at Puerto Bolivar harbor after the earthquake.
CNN affiliate Ecuavisa reported structural damage to buildings in Cuenca, one of the country’s largest cities. The historic city is on the UN World Heritage List.
According to the US National Weather Service, there is no tsunami warning for the area.
Guayaquil and Cuenca airports remained open and operational, the country’s statement said.
CNN’s Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.