7.8-magnitude quake kills at least 28

7.8-magnitude quake kills at least 28

quito, ecuador

A powerful, 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook Ecuador’s central coast Saturday, killing at least 28 people and spreading panic as far away as the Andean capital of Quito as it collapsed homes and rattled buildings.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the shallow quake, the strongest in decades to hit Ecuador, was centered 16 miles south-southeast of Muisne, in a sparsely populated area of fishing ports that’s popular with tourists.

Vice President Jorge Glas said in a televised address that there were initial reports of 28 dead in the cities of Manta, Portoviejo and Guayaquil.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous tsunami waves are possible for some coasts.

Police: Man who shot firefighters released

TEMPLE HILLS, MD.

As police worked Saturday to determine why a person opened fire on firefighters who were responding to a call for help at a home in a Maryland suburb of Washington, the shooter was released from custody.

John Ulmschneider, a 13-year veteran of the Prince George’s County Fire Department, died Friday night after he was shot while trying to enter a home to make a welfare check, police said.

Volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain, 19, also was shot and was in serious but stable condition after coming out of surgery Saturday, department officials said. Swain, who authorities say was shot four times, is expected to survive.

No serious injuries in helicopter crash

BALTIMORE

No one was seriously injured after a helicopter carrying workers who were inspecting power lines crashed near Baltimore’s airport Saturday, authorities said.

The helicopter went down in a wooded area near a stream by Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Maryland State Police said.

Police said the cause of the crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Zookeeper mourned after tiger attack

miami

South Florida zoo staffers and friends of a veteran keeper attacked and killed by a Malayan tiger met Saturday morning to mourn her death as investigators sought clues as to what led the tiger to violently turn on his caretaker.

Palm Beach Zoo officials also announced Saturday that the zoo would remain closed over the weekend after the death of Stacey Konwiser, 38, who was killed by the 13-year-old male tiger in an enclosure known as the night house Friday.

Tigers sleep and are fed in the night house, which is not visible to the public, according to zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund says the zookeeper’s death was preventable and urged federal authorities to impose penalties against the zoo.

Finance leaders aim to boost economy

washington

Finance officials on Saturday pledged a more forceful effort to stimulate a sluggish global economy.

The hope is that stronger growth can boost long-stagnant wages and combat a rising backlash against globalization.

The finance leaders said they will use all the policy tools available to them to promote “strong, sustainable, inclusive, job-rich and more balanced global growth.”

The commitment came in a joint statement from the policy-setting panel of the 189-nation International Monetary Fund at the end of its spring meeting in Washington.

Associated Press