Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    THE magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Ecuador killed hundreds, devastated the country’s coastline and sent shock waves all the way to Shenzhen’s Ecuadorian community.

    “We heard the panic and horror in my sister’s voice. She almost couldn’t breathe when telling us about the shaking,” said Shenzhen-resident Carolina Zurita. She spoke to her sister in Ecuador via Skype from her mother’s house in the U.S.

    “My grandmother, who is 86, was on her knees and praying for mercy,” she said.

    When the earthquake happened in northern Ecuador on Saturday, Zurita was on a business trip in the U.S.

    Seconds after the almost minute-long quake, Zurita received a Skype call from her younger sister, who is in Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

    Zurita said that she and her friends plan to collect money in Shenzhen for quake-relief, but haven’t decided on a time or date yet.

    “The purpose of the event would be, firstly, to tell people about our small but beautiful country,” she said. “And finally ask for any donations possible.”

    Zurita said the province of Manabi, a popular tourist area, was the most affected by the quake.

    A 6.1-magnitude aftershock struck off the coast of Ecuador Wednesday, four days after the first quake killed nearly 525 people by Wednesday, with 231 reported missing. The figure will likely rise, according to Ecuador’s government. A count showed 20,503 people were in shelters, while 805 buildings were completely destroyed.

    International rescue teams and aid are flooding into Ecuador. The Red Cross Society of China has provided US$100,000 for emergency assistance. Spain, France, Poland and other European countries have also offered their assistance.

    The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has deployed work groups in the disaster zone to house people who have lost their homes.

    The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) will send 20,000 water purifying tablets to the affected population.