The worst earthquake in Ecuador's modern history* last week destroyed the garden city of Ambato (pop. 30,000) and left surrounding towns like Latacunga (pop. 20,000) mostly rubble. Estimates of the uncounted dead in the Andean valley ran into the thousands; in the town of Pelileo only 300 of 3,500 survived.
In Ambato, a moderate shock several minutes ahead of the cruncher had been warning enough to send people into the streets. Some rushed to church to pray. Then the earth heaved and Ambato's cathedral collapsed, burying in its ruins 70 children and the priest who had been teaching them. Other...
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