At least 12 people died after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southern Ecuador on Saturday afternoon, according to government officials.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said there was no tsunami risk for Australia due to the quake.
Eleven people died in the province of El Oro and one person died in the province of Azuay, according to the communication department of the president of Ecuador.
In an earlier statement, authorities said the person in Azuay died when a wall collapsed on a car and that at least three of the victims in El Oro died when a security camera tower collapsed.
The people who were injured are being treated in hospitals, the Presidency added, but did not provide further details.
The USGS gave the quake an “orange alert” and said “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread.”
“Past events with this alert level have required a response at the regional or national level,” the USGS added. He also estimated possible damages and economic losses.
The Guayaquil and Cuenca airports remained open and operational, according to the country’s statement.