113 people rescued post Ecuador earthquake

Quito, April 30: The number of people rescued after a deadly 7.8 magnitude temblor jolted Ecuador has reached to 113.

The Risk Management Secretariat on Friday announced that the death toll from the quake currently stands at 659, with 4,605 others injured, Xinhua news agency reported.

The worst-hit Manabi region alone registered 645 deaths.

The Secretariat said that the number of missing people and those living in shelters decreased from 42 and 29,067 on Thursday to 33 and 22,421 on Friday respectively.

The report also said that 22,421 food packages have been delivered to the affected regions where 166 schools showed signs of "medium to serious damage".

Besides, 376 people are in urgent need of medicine and equipment such as wheelchairs, walking sticks, walking frames, crutches and mattresses.

After the catastrophe, the government declared a state of emergency in the affected coastal provinces such as Las Guayas, Los Rios and Santa Elena.

IANS