On April 17, residents of six coastal provinces in Ecuador felt violent tremors. The government declared a state of emergency due to the earthquake. As the epicenter was close to the ocean, specialists report possible tsunami risks. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned about waves of 0.3 to one meter above the tide level.

Photo: volunteers and rescuers try to pull out a driver from a destroyed car

The death toll jumped to over 233 people; around 2,500 people were injured. The quake was reported to be the largest since 1979.

Residents of Quito, Ecuador's capital, said the earthquake was so severe that they felt the shaking even hundreds kilometers away from the epicenter.

Photo: a car accident caused by the earthquake

After the major 7.8-magnitude quake, there were 36 aftershocks in different cities.

Photo: rescued residents

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa decreed a state of emergency. The politician, who was in Italy during the earthquake, hurried back to the motherland.

Photo: people remove debris in a house

Photo: rescuers searching the earthquake area

Photo: consequences of violent temblors

Photo: residents in Manta search a destroyed building for the injured

Photo: a destroyed house in Guayaquil

Photo: a building in Portoviejo wrecked by the quake

Photo: an Ecuadorian policeman stands amid the rubble