Politics of Ecuador

QUITO, Ecuador - After several days of suspense, the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Ecuador announced that Lenín Moreno of Rafael Correa's left-wing Alianza PAIS coalition failed to win the presidential election outright in the first round by the narrowest of margins and will face Guillermo Lasso in the runoff vote on April 2.

QUITO, Ecuador - Just days before Sunday's presidential election, Lenín Moreno of the outgoing leader Rafael Correa's left-wing Alianza PAIS coalition is leading in the polls but is unlikely to win outright in the first round.

The death toll from Ecuador's worst earthquake in decades rose to 350 on April 18 while traumatized survivors rested amid the rubble of their homes and rescuers dug for survivors in the Andean nation's shattered coastal region. 

At least 2,068 people were also injured in Saturday's 7.8 magnitude quake, which ripped apart buildings and roads and knocked out power. 

BELGRADE - At least 272 people were killed by Saturday's devastating earthquake in Ecuador, President Rafael Correa said Sunday evening in an address to the nation.

"Officially, the number [of those killed] in the country totals 272," Correa said.

"The scale of the tragedy is huge, but we will be able to move forward."