Ecuador earthquake leaves hundreds dead

A man was pulled from a collapsed hotel alive in a daring rescue mission following Ecuador's devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

Dramatic footage shows hotel administrator Pablo Cordova being lifted from the rubble by several rescue workers in the coastal city of Portoviejo.

Mr Cordova was rescued after he managed to call a relative under the debris after the building collapsed.

Once removed from the disaster site, Mr Cordova was taken away on a stretcher, as he waved to cheering onlookers.

Saturday's earthquake has left at least 480 people dead and more than 2,500 people injured.

The death toll from Sunday's earthquake in Ecuador has risen to 480, officials said.

More than 2,560 were also left injured after the 7.8-magnitude quake struck off the country's coast.

President Rafael Correa warned that reconstruction following the country's biggest disaster in decades would cost "billions" and the economic impact could be "huge".

The USA is to send a team of disaster experts to help Ecuador with relief efforts following Saturday's major earthquake, a USAID official said.

The official said a small support team would also work with the U.N.'s Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, which is helping Ecuador coordinate international rescue efforts.

The team will help with damage assessments and identifying humanitarian needs, the official added.

At least 413 people have died after the 7.8 quake and thousands are injured.

The death toll caused by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off Ecuador's coast has killed 413 people, the government said.

The number of injured rose to over 2,600.

President Rafael Correa warned that reconstruction following the country's biggest disaster in decades would cost "billions" and the economic impact could be "huge".

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off Ecuador's coast has now killed 350 people, President Rafael Correa said.

At least 2,068 people were injured in the quake, which destroyed buildings and roads, and knocked out power.

Around 230 aftershocks rattled survivors, who left their homes to gather in the streets.

President Correa toured the city of Portoviejo inside the disaster zone, speaking with victims and surveying the damage.

He said the post-quake reconstruction will cost "billions of dollars", adding that the death is likely to rise even further.

A young nun from Derry city has been killed in the earthquake in Ecuador.

Sister Clare Theresa Crockett, 33, was killed when a stairwell collapsed in the school she was working at in Playa Prieta.

Her family said in a glowing tribute: "She was a superstar. Everybody loved her."

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Ecuador has killed 246 people so far, according to the country's vice president.

The quake, which struck off the south American country's Pacific coast on Sunday, has also left some 2,527 people injured.

Video report by ITV News Correspondent Duncan Golestani:

The number of people dead after an earthquake in Ecuador has risen to 233, according to President Rafael Correa.

The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off the country's northwest Pacific coast.