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Bolivian leader Evo Morales joined Ecuador's President Rafael Correa in the Andean nation's earthquake-ravaged region of Manta to facilitate aid efforts amidst a rising death toll for the April 16 tragedy.
Water and sacks of food were unloaded from a supply plane in Manta for victims of the devastating 7.8 magnitude quake which killed 659 people.
According to Bolivian authorities, the South American ally sent 80 tons of help on this as Correa confirmed a dramatic rise in the death toll.
"We have had to bury more than 650 dead but it would have been worse if it (the earthquake) would have taken place during office hours, if we had had public buildings collapsing with people inside," announced Correa.
40 People Still Missing
The two presidents toured the disaster, which Ecuador has estimated inflicted US$2 billion to US$3 billion of damage. Lower oil revenue had already left the poor nation of 16 million people facing near-zero growth and lower investment.
In addition to US$600 million in credit from multilateral lenders, Correa, an economist, announced a raft of measures to help repair homes, roads, and bridges along the devastated Pacific Coast.
Bolivia is preparing 100 tons of aid to Ecuador including water, food, medicine, rescue equipment, dogs and ecological coffins.
Peruvian President Ollanta Humala is also expected to arrive in Manta at around 3:00 p.m. Peru will send 318 tons of aid.
Three days after the quake, Ecuador had received support from at least 20 countries, with about 941 rescue workers coming from Latin America.
Ecuador's ambassador to Bolivia, Ricardo Ulcuango, thanked Bolivia for its solidarity and said the consulate will receive donations.
Before leaving, Humala said his visit “will be a political gesture of great meaning, as it can show on site the will of the people of Peru to cooperate with this brother country in these difficult times."
CORRECTION
A prior version of this article reported that Evo Morales was visiting Ecuador on Tuesday, April 26. This date was reported by the Bolivian Defense Ministry on April 21.
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