Ecuador earthquake: death toll almost doubles

With the ever-rising death toll in the aftermath of the 7.8-magnitude quake, the search for survivors goes on days later.

Visiting the worst-affected region, President Rafael Correa said that it will cost billions to rebuild. This comes at a time when the oil-producing country is already reeling from the slump in global crude prices.

“Ecuador has not seen such a horrendous tragedy in the past seven decades. Some 2,500 people have been injured,” he said.

As Ecuadorians pick up the pieces, they rejoice in the miracles of salvation, after six people were rescued from a hotel ruin in the coastal town Manta. The survivors include one three years old girl and another who was just nine months old.

Likewise, in other badly-hit areas like Portoviejo and Pedernales, those who were not so fortunate are being sent off for their final farewells.

In a televised address a shaken Correa said that he fear that the figure will go up because rubble continues to be moved. "There are signs of life in the rubble,” he said “and that is being prioritised."

Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organization of American States, said some of the group's rarely-used emergency funds would be unlocked and given to Ecuador to help it rebuild.

Ecuador's finance ministry also announced on Monday it would receive €1.76bn from the China Development Bank, but did not specify that the money is directly intended for rebuilding after the quake.