More than 238 die as quake hits Ecuador

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

President Rafael Correa said at least 238 people had died and rescuers were struggling to reach survivors trapped in the rubble.

The magnitude-7.8 quake, the strongest to hit Ecuador since 1979, was centred on the country’s sparsely- populated fishing ports and tourist beaches, 170km northwest of the capital Quito.