Ecuador: Magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurs in central Guayas Province at around 21:20 Jan. 12

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurred in central Guayas Province at around 21:20 Jan. 12. The epicenter was about 11 km (7 miles) south-southeast of Guayaquil. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 83 km (52 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout much of southern Ecuador. There were no initial reports of damage or casualties; however, significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours for authorities to conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.