Ecuador’s earthquake death toll rose to 350 as traumatised survivors rested amid the rubble of their homes and rescuers dug for survivors in the Andean nation’s shattered coastal region.

Aid began to flow to areas devastated by Ecuador's strongest earthquake in decades and the death toll continued to rise as rescue teams desperately searched rubble for survivors.

The strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades has flattened buildings and buckled highways along its Pacific coast.