Rescue workers are frantically battling to rescue scores of people including children who are trapped from scenes of devastation after a huge 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador, the coast of South America killing over 200 people.
President Rafael Correa confirmed that at least 233 people have died as the country declared a state of emergency in six provinces.
It is the latest in a series of earthquakes across South America and Asia which have triggered fears that a mega earthquake could be set to strike.
Part of the capital, Quito, has been left without power or phone services and there is considerable damage in Ecuador’s biggest city Guayaquil, near the epicentre of the earthquake.
Eye-witness Maria Torres, 60, from northern Quito, said: “Oh, my God, it was the biggest and strongest earthquake I have felt in my whole life. It lasted a long time, and I was feeling dizzy. I couldn’t walk.
“I wanted to run out into the street, but I couldn’t.”
Luis Quimis, 30, was in Guayaquil Airport when passengers fled from the terminal as tremors broke out.
He said: “Lights fell down from the ceiling. People were running around in shock.”
Looting also broke out in the town of Pedernales after dozens of buildings were flattened.
Mayor Gabriel Alcivar said: “This wasn’t just a house that collapsed, it was an entire town.”
Thousands of people have been left homeless across the country.
The horror follows a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Japan which killed at least 32 people on Saturday the second in the region this week.
Other large earthquakes have been experienced in Tonga and Burma this week.
A seismologist has warned that the current conditions might trigger at least four earthquakes greater than 8.0 in magnitude.
