Torontonians anxious for messages from family after Ecuador earthquake
At least 350 people are dead after 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Saturday
The short voicemail message contained terrible news, but Patricia Bustos was still happy to hear it.
The message was from her cousin, who lives in an area of Ecuador hit hard by Saturday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake. She described it as "a total disaster."
"It was strong. She thought it was the end of the world," Bustos said.
Like many Torontonians with family members in Ecuador, she had been anxiously awaiting news from back home and the voicemail message confirmed that her cousin and her daughter were safe.
"Thank God she's alive," she said.
Bustos has also received photos from her cousin that show a dire situation in the earthquake's aftermath in the city of Manta.
"She sent me pictures [of] buildings destroyed. Many people [are] crying, screaming in the streets. They don't know what to do, they're very afraid," she said.
The number of dead from Saturday's quake has reached at least 350, with another 2,700 injured, according to the government of Ecuador.
The strongest earthquake to hit the country since 1979 was centred on the country's Pacific coast, which is located about 170 kilometres northwest of the capital city of Quito.
On Sunday, there were prayers and support for Ecuador at a Toronto church, the Primera Iglesia Alianza Hispana on Weston Road. The church has many members with ties to Ecuador.
"One morning you wake up, your life is normal and the next morning you lose everything, everyone or part of your life. Everything changes," Daniela Numerable Espinoza, who also has family in the affected area, told CBC News.
Zachary Robichaud, a Canadian living in Ecuador with his family, said it was the biggest earthquake he has ever felt.
"It lasted around a minute and when I realized what was going on, I was hearing the tiles from the roof falling down," he said.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed two people from Quebec, a woman, Jennifer Mawn, and her 12-year-old son, Arthur Laflamme, are among the dead.