Ecuador cuts quake death toll to 3

Ecuador on Thursday lowered the death toll from the Tuesday earthquake to three as a person who has been reportedly missing was found safe.
Quito mayor Mauricio Rodas said three people, not four, were killed in the shallow 5.1-magnitude quake which struck outside the capital city, saying authorities had mistakenly reported that a man who was missing in the quake died.
"Fortunately, the person that had been reported missing is now safe. We have confirmed three deaths after the earthquake in Quito. We'd like to express our condolences to their families," said Rodas via his Twitter account.
The three victims were a four-year-old boy who was crushed by bags of falling rice and two workers who were building a bridge in Catequilla, north of Quito, near the epicenter, according to the mayor.
Rodas said the city has received 584 reports of damage to buildings and houses that are being checked out.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the moderate quake was only 7.7 km deep, with its epicenter located 23 km northeast of Quito. Damage was not widespread but landslides blocked several highways and more than 60 aftershocks were registered so far.