Quito, Rajab 10, 1437, Apr 17, 2016, SPA -- Ecuador's strongest earthquake since 1979 has killed at least 77 people, caused severe damage and prompted the government to declare a state of emergency, according to dpa. The 7.8-magnitude quake struck the north-western part of the country at 7:58 pm (2358 GMT) Saturday, the US Geological Survey said. Its epicentre was 20 kilometres underground and about 170 kilometres north-west of the capital Quito. Vice President Jorge Glas said the death toll had risen to 77 and at least 588 people were injured, according to CNN. In an earlier televised address he had expressed fears of the toll rising as relief agencies were unable to reach the worst-hit areas. There were some 50 aftershocks in the first four hours after the quake first hit, the vice president said. --SPA 10:51 LOCAL TIME 07:51 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w