View of a fallen building after a 7.8-magnitude quake in Portoviejo, Ecuador on Sunday. At least 350 people were killed when a powerful earthquake struck coastal Ecuador. (Juan Cevallos/AFP-Getty ...

PORTOVIEJO, Ecuador — Despite the grief roiling this earthquake-stricken town, Pablo Cordova has something to be thankful for: He can return the coffin his wife had bought for his funeral.

Speaking from Portoviejo late Sunday he said the earthquake was the worst natural disaster to hit Ecuador since a 1949 earthquake in the Andean city of Ambato, which took more than 5,000 lives.

There was also a precursor quake of magnitude-4.8 11 minutes before the 7.8 earthquake. View of a fallen building after a 7.8-magnitude quake in Portoviejo, Ecuador on April 17, 2016.

In a race to help residents, Ecuador deployed 10,000 soldiers and 4,600 police officers to the affected areas. The armed forces built mobile hospitals in Pedernales and Portoviejo and set up ...

It was the strongest seismic event in the country since 1979, Vice President Jorge Glas said. Rescue workers stand behind rubble after an earthquake in Portoviejo, Ecuador, April 17, 2016.

The 7.8-magnitude quake that struck Ecuador killed at least 413 people, government officials said Monday.

In a race to help residents, Ecuador deployed 10,000 soldiers and 4,600 police officers to the affected areas. The armed forces built mobile hospitals in Pedernales and Portoviejo and set up ...