2016 Ecuador earthquake

== Aftermath ==
[[File:DAÑOS SISMO - 25878141753.jpg|thumb|left|The collapsed overpass in Guayaquil]]

In response to the earthquake, a [[state of emergency]] was declared throughout the country and the national guard was mobilized to assist in rescue and relief efforts.{{cn|date=December 2020}} Approximately 10,000&nbsp;military personnel and 3,500&nbsp;police officers were deployed.<ref name="NBC_1"/> [[List of heads of state of Ecuador|President]] [[Rafael Correa]] cut his trip to Italy short in order to return to Ecuador.<ref name="BBC_1"/> [[Hydroelectric dam]]s and oil pipelines were shut down as a precautionary measure.

On April 17 the [[International Charter on Space and Major Disasters]] was activated by UNITAR/[[UNOSAT]] on behalf of UN [[OCHA]], thus providing for the charitable and humanitarian re-tasking of [[satellite]] assets.<ref name="International Charter on Space and Major Disasters">{{cite web | url=https://www.disasterscharter.org/web/guest/activations/-/article/earthquake-in-ecuador | title=Latest Activation: Earthquake in Ecuador | publisher=International Charter on Space and Major Disasters | date=April 17, 2016 |access-date=May 6, 2016}}</ref>

On April 20, a 6.1–6.2 magnitude aftershock struck 15 miles west of Muisne around 3:30{{nbsp}}am, local time.<ref name=Weather0420/><ref>{{cite news |first1=Ana Isabel |last1=Martinez |first2=Julia Symmes |last2=Cobb |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-quake-coast-idUSKCN0XH0S2 |title=Ecuador disaster toll tops 500, big new quake shakes coast |date=April 20, 2016 |website=Reuters |access-date=April 20, 2016 }}</ref> The quake had a depth of about 9 miles.<ref name=Weather0420>{{cite web|url=https://weather.com/safety/earthquake/news/ecuador-earthquake-aftershock|title=Earthquake Safety and Preparedness|date=April 20, 2016|work=The Weather Channel}}</ref> [[José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport]] in Guayaquil was also closed due to communication issues.<ref name="CBS_1">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=CBS News|date=April 16, 2016|access-date=April 16, 2016|title= 7.8-magnitude earthquake kills dozens in Ecuador|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/7-8-magnitude-quake-hits-off-coast-of-ecuador/}}</ref>

A [[UNICEF]] representative reported that the government is considering relocating "one or two" towns in the aftermath of the earthquake. There were also concerns about the [[Zika virus outbreak (2015–present)|Zika virus outbreak]] and the risk of [[dengue fever]] for people displaced by the quake.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ireland|first1=Nicole|title=Ecuador earthquake destruction could force relocation of towns, UNICEF says|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ecuador-earthquake-aid-agency-relief-efforts-1.3545551|access-date=April 21, 2016|work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=April 21, 2016}}</ref>

Days after the earthquake, the country experienced difficulties distributing food and water to those in need, including the over 26 thousand survivors relocated to shelters. President Correa acknowledged that the poor infrastructure of the country might be to blame.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/21/ecuador-earthquake-survivors-food-shortages-water-medical-aid|title=Earthquake survivors in Ecuador struggle without food and basic aid|agency=Reuters|date=April 21, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref> The President estimated the damage at $3 billion, and has obtained credit from the [[World Bank]], [[Inter-American Development Bank]], and other sources, anticipated to reach a total of $2 billion; national sales tax has been raised as have income taxes on Ecuadorians.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sreenivasan|first1=Hari|title=Ecuador looks to rebuild after devastating earthquake|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/ecuador-looks-to-pick-up-pieces-and-rebuild-after-devastating-earthquake/|website=PBS Newshour|access-date=July 7, 2016|date=May 26, 2016}}</ref>