How prepared is Ecuador for a major earthquake? Not very, say some
Ecuador's emergency management officials, who are reviewing emergency
procedures that would respond to disasters similar to those suffered in
Haiti. Peru and Chile in the last five years.
Ecuador lies on the eastern rim of the seismically active area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, according the Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute. There have been at least 37 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher since 1541, when written records by the Spanish were first maintained, the institute says. The government estimates that more than 80,000 died as a result of those earthquakes.
It is important, officials say, to know the level of risk of the area you live in. For example, Manta is at a relatively high risk for a catastrophic earthquake whereas Cuenca is at relatively low risk. Countrywide, the area of greatest risk, says the institute, is the c
oast,
particularly the area from Manta to the Colombia border, followed by
the northern Andes including the cities of Ambato, Riobamba, Quito and
Ibarra.
Ecuador lies on the eastern rim of the seismically active area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, according the Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute. There have been at least 37 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher since 1541, when written records by the Spanish were first maintained, the institute says. The government estimates that more than 80,000 died as a result of those earthquakes.
It is important, officials say, to know the level of risk of the area you live in. For example, Manta is at a relatively high risk for a catastrophic earthquake whereas Cuenca is at relatively low risk. Countrywide, the area of greatest risk, says the institute, is the c
oast,
particularly the area from Manta to the Colombia border, followed by
the northern Andes including the cities of Ambato, Riobamba, Quito and
Ibarra.
hat won’t go away, despite the best efforts of Ecuador’s national park service and a number of scientists.