A strong 6.3 earthquake off Ecuador’s Pacific coast has shaken the northern part of the country Friday, with some initial reports of some damages to houses.

A strong, 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean near Ecuador on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The temblor happened at 6:44 a.m. Ecuador time about 12 miles northeast of Esmeraldas,

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake has injured at least 20 people and seriously damaged multiple buildings in the Ecuadorian port city of Esmeraldas. According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the quake struck at a depth of 30km (18.64 miles) near the Ecuadorian coast at 6:44 local time on Friday (9:44 GMT).