Dozens killed as 7.8-magnitude earthquake hits Ecuador

Fearful residents stream into streets of the capital Quito while major city of Guayaquil is among places worst hit

Jessica Elgot and agencies in Quito

Ecuador’s Pacific coast has been struck by the country’s strongest earthquake in decades, a 7.8-magnitude tremor killing at least 77 people, flattening buildings and damaging roads near the epicentre, as well as in the country’s largest city of Guayaquil.

Live Ecuador earthquake: death toll triples to 233 following 7.8-magnitude quake - latest developments

President Correa calls national emergency after more than 230 killed and over 500 injured in 7.8-magnitude quake

President Rafael Correa declared a national emergency and urged the country’s 16 million people to stay calm. More than 570 people are believed to have been injured in the quake.

“Our infinite love to the families of the dead,” he said on Twitter, as he cut short a trip to Italy to return home.

The government had recommended residents leave coastal areas after concerns about rising tides following the quake, but fears of hazardous waves have eased and locals were told they could return home. Earlier, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves of less than 0.3 metres above the tide level were possible along the coasts of Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru.

But by 0256 GMT the centre said the “tsunami threat from this earthquake has now mostly passed”.

About 10,000 troops have been deployed to the coastal areas, with 3,500 extra national police officers sent to the towns of Manabí, Esmeraldas and Guayas y Santa Elena, and 500 firefighters sent to Manabi and Pedernales. Five shelters have been set up for those evacuated from their homes.

Alarmed residents streamed into the streets of the capital, Quito, hundreds of kilometres away, and other towns across Ecuador.

The government said the death toll was likely to rise and damage was “serious”, especially in the western coastal areas nearest the quake and in Guayaquil.

The vice-president, Jorge Glas, said it was the strongest quake to hit Ecuador since 1979. “We continue to receive information,” he said, adding that 16 people had died in the city of Poroviejo, 10 in Manta and others in the province of Guayas.

The country’s Geophysics Institute in a bulletin described “considerable damage” in the area of the epicentre and in Guayaquil, without providing further details.

It said the earthquake struck at about 8pm local time at a depth of 12.4 miles (20km). At least 36 aftershocks have followed, one as strong as six on the Richter scale, and residents have been warned to brace themselves for even stronger aftershocks in the coming hours.

A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake also hit the Pacific island of Tonga, south-east of the capital, Nuku’alofa, in the early evening. The United States Geological Survey said the quake’s epicentre was 172.12 miles (277km) away at a depth of 41 miles.

Pictures shared on social media showed a crumbling bridge in Guayaquil and a collapsed tower at an airport in the city of Manta that injured an air traffic control worker and a security guard.

“I was in my house watching a movie and everything started to shake. I ran out into the street and now I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Lorena Cazares, 36, a telecommunications worker in Quito.

Japan disaster: rescuers search for survivors after second deadly quake

Read more

Parts of the capital were left without power or telephone service, with many communicating only via WhatsApp. Photos showed cracks in the walls of shopping centres. The capital’s municipal government later said power had been restored and there were no reports of casualties.

“There are villages that are totally devastated,” said Gabriel Alcívar, mayor of the city of Pedernales in the hard-hit province of Manabi, in a radio interview. “What happened here in Pedernales is catastrophic.”

Alcívar called for more help from authorities to send earth-moving machines and emergency rescue workers. “This wasn’t just a house that collapsed, it was an entire town,” he said.

State officials said the Opec nation’s oil production was not affected by the quake but that the principal refinery of Esmeraldas, located near the epicentre, had been halted as a precaution.

Neighbouring Peru issued a tsunami alert for the north of the country following the quake.

Across the Pacific in Japan, a 7.3-magnitude tremor struck Kumamoto provinceearly on Saturday, killing at least 32 people, injuring about 1,000, and causing widespread damage, in the second major quake to hit the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours. The first, late on Thursday, killed nine.

ASKOFU NGALALEKUMTWA ACHANGISHA ZAIDI YA MILIONI 142 UJENZI WA KANISA KILOLO

Mhashamu Askofu Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa wa Jimbo Katoliki la Iringa, ambaye pia ni Rais wa Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Tanzania (TEC) akimkabidhi picha yake Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Iringa Richard kasesela (kulia) baada ya kushinda mnadi wa ununuzi wa picha hiyo wakati harambee ya kuchangia ujenzi wa kanisa katika Parokia ya Kilolo jana. 

Mhashamu Askofu Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa wa Jimbo Katoliki la Iringa, ambaye pia ni Rais wa Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Tanzania (TEC) amefanikiwa kuchangisha zaidi Tsh mil 142 na $200 katika harambee ya kuchangia ujenzi wa kanisa katika parokia ya Kilolo jana.

Askofu Ngalalekumtwa katika ‘Siku ya Mlo wa Hisani’ alitoa mchanganuo wa michango iliyopatikana katika harambee hiyo kuwa fedha taslimu zilikwa shilingi milioni 15,845,000.100 pamoja dola za kimarekani 200 na ahadi zilikuwa milioni jumla shilingi milioni 128,570,000/-.

Baba askofu Ngalalekumtwa alishukuru wadau wote na amewaomba wadau wengine wajitokeze kujenga nyumba ya Mungu ya kisasa pale Kilolo. 

Aidha, askofu huyo alitoa baraka kwa wale wote waliojitolea kuchangia ujenzi wa Kanisa la Parokia ya Kilolo katika Jimbo la Iringa na kuwaomba waendelee  na moyo huo wakitoa kwa kuchangia maendeleo.

Katika siku hiyo ya hisani alikuwepo Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Iringa, Richard Kasesela akimwakilisha Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa Amina Masenza na wakuu wa wilaya KILOLO na MUFINDI pia walishiriki katika harambee ya ujenzi wa Kanisa la Kilolo. 

Wengine waliohudhuria harambee hiyo ni pamoja na Mstahiki Meya wa Manispaa Alex Kimbe, wadau mbalimbali mkoani Iringa, viongozi wa serikali na siasa ilifanyika katika Ukumbi wa Kichangani mjini Iringa. 

Baada ya harambee kulikwapo na kabumbu iliyochezwa katika yaa wadau na maparoko ambapo maporoko waliwabamiza wadau goli 1-0. Kikosi cha wadau kiliongozwa na Mbunge wa Kilolo Venance Mwamoto. 

“Tulijitahidi sana pamoja na kufanya usajili wa papo kwa papo. Maparoko walionyesha wana uzoefu na wanafanya mazoezi..., “alisema DC Kasesela.

How to resolve a neighbourhood noise annoyance

EXCESSIVE noise from neighbours can be annoying, stressful and generally disruptive to the quality of life in a residential area. 

This may be because of loud music or a television, barking dogs, shouting, banging doors and other social and economic activities. 

However, no house or flat is totally soundproof and everyone should expect to hear a degree of noise from neighbours. Often while it may seem difficult, the best way forward is to discuss the problem with your neighbour. 

An immediate approach and investigation by the council can lead to a serious breakdown in relations between neighbours and, while our approach seeks to avoid this, formal action should, if possible, be a last resort.

Where we investigate a noise complaint we aim to gain sufficient evidence to prove that a statutory nuisance exists. 

If your neighbour does not co-operate and solve the problem, it can take several months to gather sufficient evidence to take the matter to court. 

Sometimes, a noise which you find very annoying, might not meet the legal requirements required for formal action. 

This might be due to: poor sound insulation in your property; you may be especially sensitive to normal acceptable levels of noise; or you might even be suffering medical conditions causing noises in the inner ear for example tinnitus (Ringing in the Ear).

What can you do for yourself?

If you are being affected by a noise nuisance, you should consider taking the following steps. These may resolve the problem amicably and, if they don't, the fact you have taken them will help you in any further city council action.

Approach your neighbour and politely explain that you are being troubled by their noise. If appropriate, invite them into your home to hear the level of noise for themselves.

Although you might find this difficult, it is surprising how often neighbours are unaware of the problems they are causing. Most will be glad to do what they can to reduce excessive noise.

If your initial requests to your neighbour are snubbed or ignored, write to them about the problem. Refer to your previous approach to them, anything they might have agreed to do, and the effect the noise is having, on you or your family. Ask them again to stop making a noise nuisance.

Start to keep a record of the times you have spoken to your neighbours and copies of the letters you write. Also, you should keep a diary of the dates and times the nuisance occurs, its duration and the effect it has on you. 

This will provide the first level of evidence in the subsequent legal action that may be needed. Be careful to make records as the events happen, not sometime later and try not to exaggerate.

Tell your neighbour every time a nuisance occurs. If the problem carries on, move on to making a formal complaint to the council.

What council can do?

In the first instance, we will write to the neighbour advising them of the alleged problem and the possible legal situation if they fail to reduce any noise nuisance.

Recently, the CEO of National Environment Management Council (NEMC), Bonaventure Baya in Dar es Salaam said and stressed that pollution, caused by noise and vibrations, has been taking place regardless of the laws of the country and now will handle the matter appropriately.

Baya said the current rules to regulate it, is fully completed and become effective. Any person who contravenes the rules and regulations, strict action will be taken.

He explained that the regulations have set parameters and special charges of starting from five million to 10 million shillings, depending on the location and type of noise and vibration.

According to the same point of NEMC, now a person wanting to make merry in the street and make noise in the community with its neighbours, will have to pay Sh 10 million and then be allowed to continue and its activities.

Baya urged the community to avoid environmental pollution of noise and vibrations, which many people have been thinking is not a problem. He wanted people to respect the wishes of the rules and regulations for the times of day and night.

He made a special note of those who use musical instruments and sounds in residential areas, to make sure they have far-reaching effects on people's health.

He explained that the rules and regulations of noise and vibrations have enhanced sound criteria and standards for pollution control in the hospitals, homes, mines, social halls, comfortable night venues, advertising, bars and other places.

About fine, he said environmental law clearly establishes fines for violations and pollution to noise and vibrations. Fines and penalties that is independent of Sh Sh five million to 10 million described, where one has to pay not less than Sh 50 million and not more than Sh 50 million or a jail term.

National Council of Conservation and Environmental Management (NEMC), Mbeya Zonal Office intends to begin implementing the rules and regulations of the noise and vibrations levels of 2015 in order to control noise pollution and vibrations.

Speaking with The Guardian on Sunday yesterday in an exclusive interview the Mbeya Zonal Office Coordinator, Godlove Mwamsojo said now anyone who would make a festive in the street, playing music to noise, or worship in the street to noise, will have to pay 10 million shillings.

"The Council also directed that anyone found harassing arising from the noise and vibrations beyond the standards set to report to the council – the Zonal Office of the Mbeya region," said Mwamsojo.

Also, he said that pubs, dance halls and night clubs that will make noise, they will pay that much because they have equipment to prevent unnecessary sounds (sound proof).

NEMC has asked people to respect the regulations of noise levels and vibrations in various locations in the country, and warned that violators, strong action will be taken against them. These regulations become effective last year (2015).

However, some residents in Mbeya City Council have asked various departments to cooperate with other authorities, relevant to the issuance of permits for conferences, exhibitions and concerts in Mbeya, reduce nuisance within the community.

Dr. Paschal Kiliba is a doctor at Tumaini Special Clinic in Mbeya City Council, who said that noise pollution has an impact on the health of the people and the community at large.

He said noise pollution is an often-overlooked source of environmental stress that can raise your risk of serious health conditions, including heart disease. Noise pollution may increase your risk of hearing loss, stress, sleep disturbances, and heart disease. 

According to Dr. Mercola (Mercola.com), a new analysis conducted an environmental assessment of US noise pollution as a cardiovascular health hazard, and revealed small decreases in noise could add up to major economic savings.

He said in the US it’s estimated that 100 million people are exposed to unhealthy levels of noise, typically from automobile and aircraft traffic.

Noise pollution can harm your health in many ways, aside from harming your heart health and leading to hearing loss. Many of these are just beginning to be explored. For instance, a study on pregnant women found exposure to noise pollution may lead to lower birth weight.

All in all, the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) oversees the implementation and compliance of the Environmental Management Act of 2004 and the principles of Noise and Vibrations of 2015. Credits: www.stoke.gov.uk and mercola.com