Earthquakes in Ecuador

The April 16, 2016 Muisne earthquake (M7.8) struck the coastal Esmeraldas province of Ecuador, killing 676 people and injuring over 16,000. Multiple buildings collapsed including hotels in coastal tourist towns. President Correa declared a national emergency.

Ecuador sits at the convergence of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, which collide at approximately 7 cm per year along the Pacific coast. The subduction generates both offshore megathrust earthquakes and inland events on Andean crustal faults. The Quito Fault System runs directly beneath the capital.

Yes. Quito, the capital, sits in an Andean valley directly above the Quito Fault System — a north-south trending reverse fault capable of a M7.0+ event. Government hazard models show potential for significant casualties and building damage in a worst-case scenario given the high density of vulnerable construction in older parts of the city.

Yes. Ecuador's Pacific coast faces tsunami hazards from both local and distant subduction earthquakes. The 1906 Colombia-Ecuador earthquake (M8.8) generated a tsunami that killed several hundred coastal residents. SNGRE and INOCAR maintain tsunami evacuation maps for coastal communities.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. After shaking stops, if you are near the coast and felt strong shaking, immediately move inland and uphill without waiting for an official warning. Contact Ecuador's SNGRE (gestionderiesgos.gob.ec) and follow IG-EPN for aftershock information.