6.7-magnitude quake hits Ecuador

Quito, May 18: An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale hit western Ecuador on Wednesday, with the epicentre near Rosa Zarate, the US Geological Survey said. The epicentre, at a depth of 10 km, was initially determined at 0.416 degrees north latitude and 79.764 degrees west longitude, Xinhua news agency reported. The quakeoccurred in the same zone where a 7.8 magnitude tremor killed at least 660 people and injured over 4,000 others last month. It caused electricity blackout in some coastal areas. There was on no immediate report of damage to property or loss of life. (IANS)