Death toll from Ecuador earthquake climbs to 646

The death toll from last Saturday's earthquake in Ecuador has climbed to 646, FOX News quoted President Rafael Correa as saying on Saturday, adding that 130 people are still missing.

In his traditional weekly activity report, Correa said that 12,492 people have received treatment after being injured in the temblor, one of the most powerful ever to strike the Andean nation.

A total of 113 people have been rescued alive and 26,091 have been in shelters since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck, mainly affecting areas along the northern coast.

The latest data, published on the website of the National Secretariat for Risk Management, or SNGR, says 6,998 buildings were destroyed and 2,740 damaged, including 281 schools.

The Ecuadorian government has declared a state of emergency in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Los Rios, Manabi, Santa Elena, Guayas, Tsachilas and Santo Domingo, along with a state of exception nationwide.

More than 20 countries around the world have sent humanitarian aid to Ecuador in the wake of the quake, which has included more than 1,000 specialists in the work of rescuing victims and caring for those who were injured, left homeless or harmed in any way.

Source: MENA