Magnitude-7.8 earthquake rocks Ecuador

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake hits along the coast of Ecuador Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.The tremor was recorded at a depth of 19.2 kilometers (11.9 miles). A tsunami threat message has been issued as waves reaching 0.3 to 1 metre above tide level are possible for coastal areas of Ecuador. However, other countries along the coast including, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and many other Pacific islands are forecast to see waves less than 0.3 metres.Ecuador is a country straddling the equator on South America’s west coast. Its diverse landscape encompasses Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands.