Ecuador earthquake death toll soars to 413

PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 413 people are now known to have died in the earthquake that struck Ecuador, the country's government says, according to BBC News.

The 7.8-magnitude quake struck Ecuador's Pacific coast on Saturday, April 16, and the search for survivors continues.

The cost of rebuilding is likely to be in the billions of dollars, President Rafael Correa said during a visit to the worst-affected region.

He said it was the biggest tragedy to hit Ecuador in the past seven decades. Some 2,500 people were injured.

The quake comes at a time when the oil-producing country is already reeling from the slump in global crude prices.