Photo: BBC.

The government of Ecuador declared a state of emergency in the province of Azuay this Sunday, after the consequences of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale that caused 13 landslides in that territory.

President Guillermo Lasso indicated that it is a priority to immediately intervene the main roads that connect with this area of ​​the Andean country, affected by the telluric movement with its epicenter in the city of Balao, in the province of Guayas and was noticeable in 13 other jurisdictions. .

On Saturday night, Lasso visited the city of Cuenca, capital of the province of Azuay, to verify the damage and stated that it was an "earthquake with severe impacts in the province of El Oro, Guayas and Azuay."

"They are not alone, we understand the anguish that this has generated," said the president from there while he expressed his solidarity with the families of the deceased.

Photo: Getty Images.

According to the Geophysical Institute (IG), the earthquake occurred on March 18, with its epicenter in Guayas and had the characteristics to be called an earthquake.

IG seismologist Pablo Palacios assured that "an earthquake is qualified when it is strong enough to cause structural damage," as has happened in this case, he specified.

Palacios indicated that the movement was deep (approximately 44 kilometers), in an area where earthquakes of this nature have already occurred.

"In previous years, movements like this have been observed, but with smaller magnitudes," he explained.

Photo: Agencies.

It is not possible to predict new events -he warned- however, there is no direct temporal link that allows us to affirm that there will be an event of greater magnitude in the future.

It is highly unlikely that an earthquake of equal or greater magnitude will occur, although it cannot be ruled out," Palacios concluded.

The earthquake that affected the border area between Ecuador and Peru left, according to official figures so far, 14 people dead, although President Guillermo Lasso mentioned that the death toll had risen to 16 during a press conference in the city of Cuenca , in the province of Azuay.

According to the latest report from the Directorate for Monitoring Adverse Events, there are 446 injured, 180 homes affected, 84 completely destroyed, 80 educational units damaged, and 33 health centers.

(With information from PL)