M6.3 earthquake near Esmeraldas, Ecuador damages over 800 buildings and injures 32 people
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit near the coast of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, at 11:44 UTC (06:44 local time) on April 25, 2025, at a depth of 35 km (22 miles). The earthquake damaged more than 800 buildings, destroyed at least 179, and injured 32 people, according to the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR).
Damage in Esmeraldas after M6.3 earthquake on April 25, 2025. Image credit: Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador
Tremors were felt across 10 provinces, including Esmeraldas, Manabí, and Guayas, and as far as Quito, located 190 km (118 miles) south-southeast of the epicenter.
An estimated 198 000 people experienced very strong shaking, 80 000 strong shaking, and 255 000 moderate shaking.
According to Ecuador’s National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR), the earthquake injured 32 people. At least 179 homes collapsed and 716 sustained varying degrees of damage, along with 88 other buildings, including 18 schools, four health centers, and one military building. Damage was also reported to two bridges—one in the 5 de Agosto parish and another in Muisne—as well as 60 m (195 feet) of roads.
Telecommunications and power outages affected up to 90% of households in Esmeraldas. Petroecuador temporarily suspended operations at the Esmeraldas Refinery (capacity: 110 000 barrels per day) and the SOTE pipeline for inspections. The refinery remained shut as of April 26, pending safety checks.
President Daniel Noboa deployed all government ministers to Esmeraldas to coordinate relief efforts, including the establishment of shelters, the delivery of humanitarian aid kits, and support for affected communities.
A total of 90 people were housed in a temporary shelter at the Teldoro Morán educational unit in the Tachina parish.
Damage assessments in rural areas are still ongoing, with most reports so far focusing on Esmeraldas city.
Ecuador’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Nazca and South American plates converge, makes it prone to earthquakes. The 2016 M7.8 earthquake in Esmeraldas and Manabí killed 676 people and destroyed thousands of structures.
The 1906 M8.8 earthquake near Esmeraldas triggered a tsunami that resulted in hundreds of fatalities along the coasts of Ecuador and Colombia. The tsunami was observed across the Pacific, with wave heights recorded as far away as Hawaii and Japan. Coastal settlements near Esmeraldas were heavily damaged by both the shaking and the tsunami waves.
References:
1 Actualizacionm: Gobierno Refuerza Acciones en Esmeraldas Tras Sissmo – SNGR – April 25, 2025
2 Tras el sismo en Esmeraldas, aumenta a 90 el número de personas en un albergue temporal – Primicias – April 26, 2025
3 Very strong M6.3 earthquake hits near the coast of Ecuador – The Watchers – April 25, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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