Ecuador Earthquake: Death toll rises to 246 over 2,500 injured

Ecuador: The rescuers pulled survivors from rubble after the strongest earthquake hit Ecuador in on Sunday which killed at least 246 people. Over 2,500 people were wounded in the strong 7.8-magnitude quake hit Saturday evening, bringing structures crashing down, Vice President said. Vice Minister Diego Fuentes gave the latest number to reporters Sunday night as search teams continued to pick at rubble looking for survivors and victims. At least 100 inmates in a prisons escaped in the western town of Portoviejo when the quake shook their facility, Justice Minister Ledy Zuniga tweeted. 30 of them were caught, some had returned voluntarily and police were hunting for others.

The quake wrecked buildings, toppled power lines and sent terrified residents running from their homes when it struck a coastal zone popular with tourists.