Ecuador struck by 6.7 magnitude quake: USGSMay 18, 2016 - 13:46 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 struck western Ecuador early Wednesday, the U.S. Geographical Survey said, likely a huge aftershock from last month's deadly tremblor, NBC says. The quake's epicenter was 36 miles south of Esmeraldas at a depth of about seven miles. A destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement. Ecuador's interior ministry said teams had been deployed on the ground deployed to assess damage and report back. The president, Rafael Correa, tweeted from Quito that there were no reports of damage, NBC says. The quake struck the same side of the country as 7.8-magnitude earthquake last month, Ecuador's worst in nearly seven decades. That temblor killed more than 650 people, including one American, and injured around 16,600. Further tremors were expected for several weeks after that quake, which destroyed 7,000 buildings and left more than 25,000 people living in shelters. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |