Ecuador Earthquake: Death Toll Hits Over 500 as Victims Rescued From Rubble

Earthquake-stricken Ecuador faced the grim reality of recovering more bodies than survivors as rescue efforts moved into a third day on Tuesday and the death toll climbed to over 500.

 

Officials also began evaluating the monumental task of rebuilding from Saturday’s magnitude-7.8 quake — one of the Latin American nation’s most devastating in decades — and said the number of dead rose to 507 with about 2,560 people injured.

 

The majority of the dead have been identified and returned to loved ones, the Attorney General’s Office said. At least 11 foreigners, including one American, were among those killed.

 

President Rafael Correa, meanwhile, said it could cost as much as $3 billion to rebuild — about 3 percent of Ecuador’s gross domestic product.

 

“It’s going to be a long battle,” he told reporters Tuesday.

 

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