A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador on April 16, 2016 near the town of Muisne, killing at least 350 people and injuring over 2,527 others. The earthquake caused widespread damage, collapsing structures within hundreds of kilometers of the epicenter. In response, President Rafael Correa declared a state of emergency and deployed over 10,000 military personnel and 3,500 police officers for recovery efforts.