Ecuador Left in Desperation from 7.

8
Point Earthquake
Towns along the fault line in ruins.

By Rachel Creighton

Mother Nature has left damage in Ecuador; April 16, 2016 will not be an easily
forgotten day. Ecuador citizens are distraught having lost loved ones and homes, the

government of Ecuador is struggling to mend the devastation and ruins while the Red
Cross is rushing to save lives, in attempts of preventing any more lost.

Not a lone city has been affected, but many have that are along the fault line this

earthquake occurred on. The two seismic plates are constantly rubbing against one

another, a small piece slipped towards the Earths core causing a strike-slip earthquake.
Continuing aftershocks, measuring higher than 5.0 on Richter scale, are occurring causing
reconstructing difficult to impossible. Foundations of building become busted from the
unstable ground. Ecuador is now facing a long, treacherous, up-hill battle.

Who is hurting?

Ecuador, and already struggle country, is now in pieces. Families with young and

old children have no shelter to retreat to and all of their belongings are lost. It was the

scariest moment of my life and now I have nothing; my husband and children are gone,
recounted Melida Garcia, a survivor of the massive quakes to hit the shores of Ecuador,

Earthquakes are unpredictable, 654 are dead as of now with nearly 12,500 injured,

therefore citizens must react immediately leaving victims under rubble forcing rescue

teams to try and beat the clock to find the missing. The strike-slip earthquake has left
many innocent towns harmed, a university is trapped, a resort town with tourists cannot
function, and many others are desperate.

Unstable Ground
Fault lines run through the Earth, making up seismic plates, and are always

moving. When an earthquake occurs from extreme movement or rubbing, the place where
things reside, the ground is no longer stable. Dr. Ross Hensen explains, The [seismic]

plates move around an entire centimeter per year, earthquakes are bound to happen at

that extravagant pace. This causes homes, schools, and jobs no longer available, so the
survivors have nowhere to resort to.

Why so lethal?

When an earthquake occurs, it comes without warning, so sometimes a person

has nowhere to go. The best someone can do is drop, cover, and hold on, but that
doesnt ensure safety. Furniture flies everywhere then victims suffer many cuts and

bruises. Earthquakes cause such trouble life and economics crumble of the unfortunate
country.

If you want to support Ecuador, donate to the Red Cross to save lives, beware of

scams at this fragile moment in time.