A major earthquake hit Ecuador's central coast, killing at least 77 people as it buckled homes and knocked out power in a city hundreds of miles away, authorities said.
The magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck Saturday night, Vice President Jorge Glas said in a televised address.
Nearly 600 people were injured, he said, adding that the death toll is expected to go up as more information comes in.
A state of emergency is in effect for six provinces, but Glas urged those who left their homes in coastal areas to return, as the tsunami alert had been lifted.