Ham radio operators in Ecuador played a large
role in relaying emergency traffic and health-and-welfare
Earthquake damage in Ecuador (Courtesy IARU Region II website)
messages after the
country was struck by a huge earthquake – measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale –
in mid-April. The quake caused massive damage and is blamed for several hundred
deaths. According to various news sources, emergency communications were being
conducted both on 40 meters and on the nation's interlinked 2-meter repeater
network, which is also connected to Echolink to provide worldwide coverage.