A strong earthquake struck southern Ecuador on 18 March 2023. It measured 6.8 on the moment magnitude scale, and struck with a hypocenter 68.0 km (42.3 mi) deep. The epicenter was located in the Gulf of Guayaquil, off the coast of Balao Canton and about 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Guayaquil. There was major damage, 446 injuries and 16 fatalities in Ecuador's El Oro, Azuay and Guayas provinces. Two additional fatalities and dozens of injuries were reported in Peru. Magnitude 6.8 (mww), 68 km deep, 14 km NNW of Baláo, Ecuador — 2.78°S, 79.85°W. March 18, 2023 at 17:12 UTC. Tsunami: USGS flags this quake as having caused one, or the potential for one. Felt reports to USGS: 253. Wiki link https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000jl3s Data: US Geological Survey (public domain).