By Guillermo Granja MANTA, Ecuador (Reuters) – The death toll from Ecuador's biggest earthquake in decades soared to at least 233 on Sunday as rescuers using tractors and bare hands hunted desperately for survivors in shattered coastal towns. The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off the Pacific coast on Saturday and was felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, causing panic as far away as the highland capital Quito and collapsing buildings and roads in a swath of western towns. President Rafael Correa, rushing home from a trip to Italy, said the number of fatalities jumped on Sunday to 233.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/strong-quake-hits-off-coast-ecuador-tsunami-waves-003611134.html

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