Earthquake kills at least 77 in Ecuador

Tremor was strongest to hit nation since 1979; access to disaster zone proves difficult

The strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades flattened buildings and buckled highways along its Pacific coast, sending the Andean nation into a state of emergency. As rescue workers rushed in, officials said on Sunday at least 77 people were killed, over 570 injured and the damage stretched for hundreds of miles to the capital and other major cities.

The magnitude-7.8 quake was centered on Ecuador's sparsely populated fishing ports and tourist beaches, 170 kilometers northwest of Quito, the capital.