Iran Sympathizes with Ecuador on Deadly Quake

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari voiced Tehran’s condolences to the Ecuadorian government and nation over the powerful earthquake that killed more than 480 people in the Latin American country.

In a statement on Wednesday, Jaberi Ansari expressed his deepest sympathy to the Ecuadorian nation and the bereaved families of the victims of the deadly incident.

The foreign ministry spokesman also wished those injured in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake a swift recovery.

The Saturday night’s earthquake, which killed at least 480 people and injured more than 4,000 in Ecuador, was the worst disaster the country has faced in decades, according to authorities.

Relief workers were confronted with swaths of flattened homes, roads and bridges as they surveyed the destruction wrought by quake, and the death toll was expected to rise.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa cut short a visit to Europe and declared a national emergency after the deadly tragedy.