A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near the coast of Ecuador on Friday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said, injuring at least 20 people, damaging buildings in the city of Esmeraldas and temporarily shutting down some oil infrastructure.

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near Ecuador's Pacific coast on Friday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported. The epicenter of the seismic event, which occurred at approximately 6.45 am local time (1145GMT), was located near the Pacific coast of the northwestern city of Esmeraldas, at a depth of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has struck near the coast of Ecuador, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake was at a depth of 23km (14.29 miles), EMSC said. Turkish authorities say it was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the city in recent years.