Ecuador earthquake: Second tremor measuring magnitude 7.2 strikes country's coast

The extent of damage or casualties is currently unclear

A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake has hit the coast of Ecuador the country's Geophysical Institute has said, hours after it was struck by another tremor measuring 6.7.

The quake's epicentre was 14 miles north west of Rosa Zarate, at a depth of 15 miles, the US Geographical Survey reported.

The extent of damage or casualties is currently unclear. No tsunami warning has been issued.

President Rafael Correa announced on Twitter some areas along the coast had lost power and said schools would be cancelled nationwide as a precaution.

The earlier tremor's epicentre was 36 miles south of the city of Esmeraldas. No significant damage was reported as a result of the earlier earthquake.

In April, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake caused one of Ecuador's worst disasters for nearly seven decades.

More than 650 people were killed and around 16,600 injured.

President Correa increased taxes to fund recovery from the quake, but said it will take years to rebuilt the beach towns and tourist hubs which were devastated.

Some previously-ravaged homes and buildings suffered more damage in Wednesday's first quake.

"These sort of aftershocks are normal but that doesn't mean they're not scary and can cause damage," Mr Correa said in a televised address.

He added that aftershocks of this magnitude were normal for up to two months after a major quake like the one Ecuador experienced.