Ecuador: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs near Jipijapa at around 15:03 Aug. 13

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred offshore Manabi Province at around 15:03 Aug. 13. The epicenter was about 55 km (34 miles) west-southwest of the town of Jipijapa. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 8 km (5 miles), and shaking was probably felt along most of the Ecuadorian coast. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

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.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.