The United States Geological Service confirms that today, 20 April, at 8:33 a.m. (GMT), a strong earthquake has again shaken the coastal areas of Ecuador. The quake, with a magnitude of 6.1 degrees on the Richter scale, had its epicentre 25 kilometres from Muisne and, according to the first reports, has been felt in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayaquil and Santo Domingo.
Until yesterday, a complete survey of the total damage caused by Saturday's earthquake was not available, but it has been confirmed that the number of fatalities exceeds 480 and that damage to infrastructure has been estimated at more than $ 3 million. In this emergency situation, international aid, both from neighbouring and European countries, soon arrived to the South American country, which received food donations and support to comfort the victims.
Meanwhile, the impact of this disaster on the agricultural sector is still uncertain. While banana producers have already confirmed that they suffered no major damages, there is still no information regarding other crops and stability will have to be restored in the most affected areas before it is possible to offer any detailed reports.