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Ecuador: As death toll nears 500, rescuers fighting against clock to uncover more survivors

By Andrew V. Pestano and Doug G. Ware
Peruvian rescuers look for survivors of an earthquake in the Tarqui Neigborhood in Manta, Ecuador on Monday. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 480 people, officials said Tuesday. Photo by Ezra Kaplan/UPI
1 of 3 | Peruvian rescuers look for survivors of an earthquake in the Tarqui Neigborhood in Manta, Ecuador on Monday. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 480 people, officials said Tuesday. Photo by Ezra Kaplan/UPI | License Photo

MANTA, Ecuador, April 19 (UPI) -- Search and rescue teams in Ecuador are intensifying efforts to find survivors amid the rising death toll from the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which is expected to keep growing.

At least 480 people died in Saturday's earthquake, officials said Tuesday, and another 2,500 were injured. The toll is expected to rise again, as more than 1,700 are still missing.

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In Manta, rescuers are searching the rubble of a three-story hotel where 30 people were staying when the quake struck. A dozen have been pulled out alive, so far.

Three people were also pulled from a flattened shopping center there on Tuesday. One of the survivors told emergency personnel there may be as many as 20 more buried beneath the wreckage.

"She's my only sister, my older sister, and we hope she's still alive," a 16-year-old girl told CBS News of her missing sister.

Vinicio Alvarado, head of Ecuador's labor department, warned that volunteers attempting to help may also become endangered if they are not properly supplied and supported.

More than 13,500 emergency workers have already been deployed; about 400 have come from neighboring South American countries.

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Countries that have sent rescuers and aid include Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela and Peru. The United Nations said it was preparing a major aid drop-off, and the European Union said it released more than $1 million in humanitarian aid to help those affected.

About 200 people died in coastal Manabi province, the most affected area. Six of Ecuador's 24 provinces are under a state of emergency.

Aftershocks have been felt in Ecuador for days. One aftershock measured 5.1 magnitude.

Some families are sleeping out in the streets because they fear additional devastating aftershocks might topple more buildings.

Ecuador's interior ministry has closed nightclubs in affected areas and the national soccer federation has suspended the Ecuadorian championship tournament until further notice.

Rebuilding after the devastating earthquake will cost billions of dollars, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said this week. Alvarado said his agency will gather a "package of economic measures" to properly bring relief to affected areas.

President Barack Obama spoke to Correa by telephone Tuesday to relay condolences from the United States, which has a disaster assistance team on the ground in Ecuador.

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