Ecuador Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 580

The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Ecuador last weekend has surpassed 580, the country’s prosecutor general’s office said.

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – Out of the 587 victims, 539 have been identified, 20 of them are foreign nationals including from the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and Germany. Most of the deaths occurred in the city of Manta.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador on April 16. Over 7,000 people were injured as a result. Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa said earlier this week that the damage caused by the natural disaster would cost as much as $3 billion.

On Wednesday, Ecuador’s president said that he planned to increase taxes and sell some state assets to raise funds to cover the costs of recovery efforts.

Ecuadorian workers earning over $1,000 a month will be required to contribute a day’s pay to cover the costs of reconstructing the country; those earning over $2,000 a month will have to contribute two days’ worth of salary, while those earning over $5,000 a month will make a contribution of a day’s pay over a period of five months, according to the presidential administration.