Ecuador: Magnitude-5.5 offshore earthquake occurs north of Manta Aug. 21

Event

A magnitude-5.5 earthquake occurred off Manabi Province at around 05:28 Aug. 21. The epicenter was about 82 km (52 miles) north of Manta, Manabi Province. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking was probably felt along most of the central and northern Ecuadorian coast. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and 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.