PIÑAS, El Oro — According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 5.5 magnitude quake hit close to Piñas Wednesday evening.

It was reported that a tremor jolted the region at 00:05 UTC (19:05 local time). The epicenter was located roughly 17 km west-northwest of Piñas, at a depth of 72 km.

Did you feel it?

If you felt the earthquake, you can report it via the USGS Felt Report form. The agency has received 26 responses on its online form so far, from people reporting they felt the quake. Weak to light shaking has been registered and people reported experiencing the tremor in a couple of cities, such as Cuenca and Loja, according to the USGS DYFI report.

Impact and estimated losses

Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Structure information summary
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall and reinforced/confined masonry construction.

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey