SASKATOON – The emotional aftershocks of a devastating earthquake in western Ecuador are reverberating all the way to Saskatoon and has a university student focused on how she can help.
“I can’t even concentrate because, you know, I am here, I am safe, but all my family’s there,” said Mayra Samaniego, a 28-year-old University of Saskatchewan (U of S) student from Ecuador. She came to Saskatoon in 2014 to study computer science.
READ MORE: Rescue efforts still ongoing as death toll from Ecuador quake rises above 400
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador’s western coast Saturday, near the province of Manabí, where Samaniego is from. She said she learned about the event almost immediately after it happened, but it took 20 minutes to reach her sister, who lives there.
“At the beginning it was impossible to communicate with her because all communication was broken,” said Samaniego.
“In less than one minute, entire buildings and entire houses collapsed, it’s incredible, and it’s terrible over there.”
Her entire family is safe, she said, however her aunt’s home was destroyed. As of Tuesday, over 400 had been confirmed dead across multiple regions.
“There are a lot of people who have not survived,” said Samaniego.
“My family says it’s like a horror movie.”
READ MORE: Dramatic rescue amid rubble gives Ecuador hope for survivors
Samaniego is one of 37 Ecuadorian students studying at the U of S, according to officials. The institution has attempted to reach out to them to offer support and counselling.
“We make sure we find out what the situation is.”
Even though she is thousands of miles away, Samaniego said she is planning on doing what she can to help. In the coming days she hopes to meet with fellow Ecuadorian students on campus to discuss what sort of efforts are possible.
“In my province and in all Ecuador, we are very strong people,” said Samaniego.
“What I can do here is pray, and I think everything will get better very soon.”
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