Earlier this month, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the western part of Ecuador. Despite of the big quake, the five-week Service Learning Study Abroad summer class that is planning to travel to Ecuador on June 2-16 was not in danger of being cancelled.

 
“The Ecuador trip is still proceeding as planned,” Shawn Pearcy, a member of the faculty who is going on the trip, said.

 
The earthquake occurred on April 16 at 6:58 ECT with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII, which is severe damage to the area.

 
The very large thrust-fault earthquake was centered approximately 110 miles from the capital Quito, which is one of the many cities that the class will visit during the trip.

 
At least 654 people were killed and 16,600 people were injured because of the quake.

 
“Our thoughts are with the people of Ecuador as they work through this tragedy,” Pearcy said. “We do not currently have a change in plans to assist with earthquake relief, but that is also not ruled out. We are still in conversation with our contacts in Ecuador for additional information.”