Scenes of destruction and panic of the population.. as a result of the violent earthquake that struck Ecuador

Weather of Arabia - The death toll from a strong earthquake that struck the area surrounding the second largest city in Ecuador on Saturday rose to 16, injuring others and destroying several homes and buildings.

The US Geological Survey reported a 6.7-magnitude earthquake in the country's coastal region of Guayas. It was centered about 80 kilometers south of Guayaquil, which includes a populated area of ​​more than 3 million people.

Videos on social media showed scenes of panicked residents gathering in the streets of Guayaquil and surrounding areas, and scenes of cracks in buildings in Guayaquil, as well as the collapse of some walls.

Damage included falling bricks and debris in the historic center of Cuenca, a city on the United Nations' list of World Heritage Sites. Officials also reported damage to health care centers and schools.

It is noteworthy that Ecuador is famous for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity because it is located on the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean, and the strength of earthquakes in Ecuador ranges between small tremors and large and devastating earthquakes.

The earthquake that struck Ecuador on April 16, 2016 was one of the most important earthquakes in modern history and caused the death of more than 650 people.

Other notable earthquakes in Ecuador are the earthquake near the coast in 1906 with a magnitude of 8.8, and the earthquake near the border with Peru in 1942 with a magnitude of 7.2.​