Two strong quakes hit Ecuador

Two strong earthquakes struck Ecuador'S northwestern coast on Sunday night, officials said.

The first quake measuring 5.9 on the Richter Scale hit Muisne, a beach town in the province of Esmeraldas around 9 p.m. on Sunday, with a depth of 8.7 km, the Geophysical Institute of Ecuador said.

It was centred about 40 km south from the coastal city of Esmeraldas, which was devastated by a powerful quake in mid-April. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake left over 650 people dead and tens of thousands homeless.

The second quake measured 6.2 jolted the same area about 10 minutes later, Xinhua news agency reported citing the institute.

The tremors were also felt in the capital Quito.

However, no casualties or damages were reported so far, the institute added.

--IANS

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