Ecuadoreans pray and try to recover one month following devastating 7.8 quake

Record ID: 103177

  • Title: Ecuadoreans pray and try to recover one month following devastating 7.8 quake
  • Date: 17th May 2016
  • Summary: WOMAN CRYING FAITHFUL DURING MASS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN RELEASING WHITE BALLOONS INTO SKY TO REMEMBER THOSE KILLED BY QUAKE BANNER IN FLAMES SYMBOLIZING MANTA'S WILL TO RECOVER
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2016 16:52
  • Keywords: earthquake disaster Mass recovery Manta Portoviejo
  • Location: PORTOVIEJO AND MANTA, ECUADOR
  • City: PORTOVIEJO AND MANTA, ECUADOR
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami
  • Reuters ID: LVA0034I75HS3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: One month after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador, residents in the worst-hit areas attended Mass and prayed for those who perished in the disaster.
    The April 16 quake, the worst in decades, killed more than 650 people, injured 7,000 others, damaged close to 2,000 buildings, and forced over 29,000 survivors to seek refuge in shelters, according to government tallies.
    In the city of Portoviejo, military troops guarded a devastated area where 200 people lost their lives.
    Residents have gradually returned to try to recover the few salvageable belongings after the quake.
    Collapsed building structures line the city's main avenue, waiting to be demolished.
    Yet many residents, such as Angel Zambrano, who lost his business, remain optimistic.
    "It is truly surprising. I believe this land has been blessed by God. People everywhere have provided support. That will we have to get up, that has helped us a lot and help from outside, has not reached us but it has reached a lot of people who needed it, it has reached them," Zambrano said.
    Residents such as Zambrano have resumed their daily activities. Some stay in temporary shelters as they rebuild their lives.
    A minute of silence was held in the city of Manta, which suffered terrible destruction. A Mass followed, in the central plaza of the city.
    Relatives of the victims gathered around and found solace as they prayed for their loved ones, while holding photos in remembrance.
    Children released white balloons into the sky and a banner was set on fire to symbolise Manta's will to recover.
    President Rafael Correa said last month Ecuador would temporarily increase some taxes, sell assets, and may issue new bonds on the international market to fund a multi-billion dollar reconstruction after the quake.
    The leftist leader estimated the disaster had inflicted $2 billion to $3 billion of damage. Lower oil revenue had already left the poor nation of 16 million people facing near-zero growth and lower investment.
    In addition to $600 million in credit from multilateral lenders, Correa, an economist, announced a raft of measures to help repair homes, roads, and bridges along the devastated Pacific Coast.
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