Ecuador: 'We are united as a nation in this moment of grief and tragedy' - Vice President Glas

"In this moment of tragedy for Ecuador I would like to tell everyone that our capacities are hundred percent ready to respond to this tragedy," stated Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas during a press conference from Quito, Sunday, following the deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the region of Manta on Saturday.
"We are united as a nation. With the help of the emergency service Ecuador is reacting immediately. We're organising rescue operations which are going to be really intense as well as the whole rescue mechanism," he continued.
Glas also stressed that a number of international organisations and countries such as Venezuela, Panama, Mexico, and Colombia "are offering and sending assistance and rescue equipment."
A total of 223 people have been killed and 1,500 injured following the initial earthquake and several powerful aftershocks. Thousands of homes have been left without power.
Ecuador's Naval Oceanographic Institute has recommended that citizens stay away from the coast as waves could reach as high as one metre (three feet) above tide level. Six provinces have declared a state of emergency while the National Guard has been mobilised to help in the rescue operations.