A 7.8 earthquake (Richter scale) hit Northern Ecuador at 18:58 local time, Saturday 16 April 2016. The epicenter was 27 kilometers from the small coastal town of Muisne (west of the Province of Esmeraldas), with a depth of 20 kilometers. The worst damage was reported in the village of Pedernales, with a population of 55,000 people which was declared a “disaster zone”. Access has been limited due to damages to infrastructure. The Government declared a “State of Exception” for 6 provinces: Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, Santo Domingo and Los Ríos. Authorities reports 663 dead (85 per cent in the province of Manabí), 6274 injured, 28,827 in temporary shelters and around half million people directly affected. Many buildings and roads destroyed or damaged. Eight shelters have been established: three in Esmeraldas, three in Babahoyo, two in Guayas, one in Santo Domingo, one in Portoviejo and one in Quito
ACT Alliance will support 2,000 families in the Canton of Muisne, Province of Esmeralda with WASH, Community Based Psychosocial Support, (CBPS) and Non Food Items.
