Another strong quake rocks north coast

An 5.2 magnitude earthquake caused minor damage near the coastal resort towns of Muisne and Quinindé in Esmeraldas Province Tuesday night. No injuries were reported.

Earthquake location.

The quake, which was felt as far away as Quito and Guayaquil, is the latest in a series of strong earthquakes that geologists say are “tectonic plate readjustments” following the powerful 7.8 April 16 quake in northern Manabí Province. The earthquakes are not considered aftershocks of the April 16 event however, according to geologists at the Ecuador Geophysical Institute.

Risk management officials said that some cracking of buildings was reported following the quake. Two schools in the area were closed Wednesday as precautionary measures.

For more on the recent earthquakes, click here and here.