Ecuador's president rushed home Sunday to coordinate rescue and recovery efforts after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed at least 272 people and injured thousands more.
In an address from the stricken city of Portoviejo, President Rafael Correa said that rescue crews believed that some people remained alive underneath collapsed buildings.
"The pain is immense, but the spirit of the Ecuadorian people is greater," Correa said. "We will move forward from this."
More than 2,000 people were injured in the earthquake, which hit the South American country's northwest coast at 6:58 p.m. Saturday (7:58 p.m. ET), Vice President Jorge Glas said Sunday. The number of casualties was expected to continue rising as authorities scour the region for a long
In an address from the stricken city of Portoviejo, President Rafael Correa said that rescue crews believed that some people remained alive underneath collapsed buildings.
"The pain is immense, but the spirit of the Ecuadorian people is greater," Correa said. "We will move forward from this."
More than 2,000 people were injured in the earthquake, which hit the South American country's northwest coast at 6:58 p.m. Saturday (7:58 p.m. ET), Vice President Jorge Glas said Sunday. The number of casualties was expected to continue rising as authorities scour the region for a long