Earthquake kills 77 in Ecuador, devastates coastal area

By Yuri Garcia GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (Reuters) - Ecuador launched rescue operations on Sunday after its biggest earthquake in decades killed at least 77 people, caused devastation in coastal populations, and left an unknown number trapped in ruins. The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off Ecuador's Pacific coast on Saturday night and was felt around the Andean nation of 16 people, causing panic in the capital Quito and collapsing buildings in the large commercial city of Guayaquil. Northwestern coastal a