
Earthquakes in Ecuador
In Ecuador, there are partly large earthquakes with strengths of more than 7.0, which cause damages within a radius of over 100 kilometers. Measured by the size of the country, earthquakes occur above average, but not excessively often.Since 1950, more than 5,700 people died by the direct consequences of earthquakes. There were 1 earthquakes that also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lives, and cause additional damage.
Other natural hazards in Ecuador:
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Back to overview: Ecuador
Most recent events
This list includes the strongest earthquakes recorded in or around Ecuador by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the past 14 days. Whether an event is listed here depends largely on its magnitude, but also on its distance from inhabited areas. All data refer to the local time. This page is updated daily at 11 am UTC.
- Feb. 1, 3:58 amMagnitude 4.4: 14 km south-southwest of Palora at a depth of 159.76 km.
- Jan. 31, 9:54 pmMagnitude 4.3: 1 km northwest of Piñas at a depth of ten km.
- Jan. 28, 6:58 amMagnitude 4.5: Peru-Ecuador border at a depth of 59.27 km.
- Jan. 25, 11:29 pmMagnitude 4.1: 67 km northwest of Puerto Francisco de Orellana at a depth of ten km.
- Jan. 25, 10:16 pmMagnitude 4.6: 4 km south-southwest of El Triunfo at a depth of 77.26 km.
- Jan. 25, 4:11 amMagnitude 4.4: Peru-Ecuador border at a depth of 34.07 km.
- Jan. 19, 11:43 amMagnitude 4.8: off the coast of Ecuador at a depth of 39.22 km.
Earthquakes in Ecuador since 1950

Date | Region | Depth | Magnitude | Deaths | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
07/14/2022 | Guayas | 73 km | 5.7 | 1 | |
03/27/2022 | Esmeraldas | 26 km | 5.8 | 0 | |
02/22/2019 | Azuay, Manabi, Morona Sant.; Peru | 145 km | 7.5 | 1 | |
01/31/2018 | Pastaza | 21 km | 5.2 | 1 | |
12/19/2016 | Esmeraldas | 5.4 | 3 | ||
05/18/2016 | Manabi Province | 26 km | 6.9 | 1 | |
04/16/2016 | Near West Coast (Manabi, Esmeraldas) | 7.8 | 663 | ||
08/12/2014 | Quito | 13 km | 5.1 | 2 | |
10/29/2011 | Pomasqui | 49 km | 4.0 | 0 | |
08/12/2010 | Manta, Guayaquil, Loja | 15 km | 7.1 | 0 | |
10/09/2009 | Tena | 39 km | 5.4 | 0 | |
11/16/2007 | Guayaquil | 6.8 | 0 | ||
07/13/2007 | Zaruma | 25 km | 4.5 | 0 | |
10/24/2005 | Baeza | 33 km | 4.8 | 0 | |
01/24/2005 | Near West Coast (Puerto Lopez, Salango) | 26 km | 6.1 | 0 | |
08/04/1998 | Bahia De Caraquez, Canoa | 20 km | 7.2 | 3 | |
03/28/1996 | Cotopaxi, Pastaza, Tungurahua, Ambato | 49 km | 5.9 | 27 | |
10/03/1995 | Quito | 23 km | 7.0 | 2 | |
08/11/1990 | Pamasqui, Quito | 54 km | 4.4 | 4 | |
06/25/1989 | Esmeraldas, Guayaquil | 32 km | 6.1 | 0 | |
09/22/1987 | Ambato, Latacunga, Riobamba | 37 km | 6.2 | 2 | |
03/06/1987 | Napo Province, Quito, Tulcan | 44 km | 7.2 | 5000 | |
08/18/1980 | W, Guayaquil | 52 km | 5.6 | 8 | |
04/09/1976 | Esmeraldos | 47 km | 6.7 | 10 | |
12/17/1969 | Sasquisili, Pujili, Latacunga | 4.2 | 0 | ||
07/30/1960 | Ecuador | 0.0 | 11 | ||
01/16/1956 | Ecuador | 7.3 | 0 | ||
08/05/1950 | Ecuador | 6.8 | 0 |
These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Data have been summarized and translated.