A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Ecuador on April 16, 2016 at 6:58 p.m. local time, causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure as well as hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries. The epicenter was located 52.0 km (32.3 mi) west of Rosa Zarate. The earthquake occurred as the result of thrust faulting 19.2 km (11.9 mi) in depth near the boundary of the Nazca and Pacific plates, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). See also: Earthquake; Fault and fault structures; Subduction zones
Location of M7.8 earthquake 27.0 km (16.8 mi) SSE of Muisne, Ecuador, 2016-04-16 (USGS)
