THE death toll following the huge 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Ecuador has risen to 480.
A huge earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador late on Saturday – sparking fears of killer waves along the coasts of the Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
Ecuador's government has declared a state of emergency in six states and told residents to leave coastal areas in case of rising tides following the quake.
It was the largest and most monumental earthquake to hit the country since 1979.
DEVASTATION: Buildings have been left in ruins after the earthquake
It follows a juggernaut trend of earthquakes to hit the Pacific since Thursday while a 6.1-magnitude shake also hit Tonga this morning.
Parts of Quito – the capital of Ecudor – were without power following the earthquake.
The government said the quake has caused "considerable damage" at the epicentre and other places – such as the country's largest city, Guayaquil.
The national guard has been mobilised in a bid to keep order among the chaos.
BRIDGE: A bridge destroyed by the earthquake
WARNING: An Ecuador tsunami alert was issued but later withdrawn
WARNING: People have been warned to leave coastal towns
DESPERATE: Survivors are pulled from a collapsed building in Manta, Ecuador
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves reaching up to a metre above the tide level are possible for some parts of Ecuador.
The Peruvian Navy declared a tsunami alert for parts of Peru – which borders Ecuador.
Ecuador authorities issued a tsunami alert but lifted it during the night.
President Rafael Correa declared a national emergency and urged the Andean nation's 16 million people to stay calm.
He said: "Our infinite love to the families of the dead."
CRUMBLE: A hotel crushed by the earthquake
DETAILS: A map showing a breakdown of the Ecuador earthquake
The quake was centred just off the coast of Ecuador at a shallow depth of six miles – 107 miles west northwest of Quito.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said: "Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300km of the epicentre along the coasts of Ecuador and Colombia."
The quake was felt strongly in Quito – leading panicked residents to flood into the streets out of fear of potential aftershocks.
Lorena Cazares, 36, a telecommunications worker in Quito, said: "I was in my house watching a movie and everything started to shake.
"I ran out into the street and now I don't know what's going to happen."
DAMAGE: Pictures of damage to coastal town of Pedernales after the Ecuador earthquake
EMERGENCY: Patients are rushed to hospital after the earthquake
Some parts of Quito were without power or a telephone service, with many people having to communicate via Whatsapp.
Confused residents in the capital streamed into the streets and authorities warned of strong waves on the Andean nation's coast.
Official details on the damage to Guayaquil – a frequent departure point for foreign tourists visiting the Galapagos islands made famous by Charles Darwin – were slow to emerge.
COLLAPSE: The ceiling of a shopping centre collapsed
CRUSHED: Emergency personnel inspect a crushed car
MAP: The location of Ecuador and the earthquake
The quake struck at around 8pm local time – 1am GMT.
The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 7.8 – though Ecuador's Institute of Geophysics on its Twitter account published several different figures that were lower.
The capital's municipal government later said power had been restored and there were no reports of casualties in the city.
MESS: Items were thrown from shelves in supermarkets
It was the second major quake to hit the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours.
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