Earthquake in Ecuador kills 246, injures 2,527

"We will overcome this. I send a message of calm and my deep solidarity to those who lost their relatives," said Glas, who is in charge of coordinating emergency response.

Glas visited the affected cities of Manta and Portoviejo in the northeastern province of Manabi, the hardest-hit and difficult to reach due to damaged highways.

"We are facing logistical difficulties," said Glas, noting that specialized rescue teams have reached the worst-hit zones, with technologies and supplies.

Besides Manabi, the provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Rios, Santa Elena and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas have declared emergencies.

The vice president said international humanitarian aid would begin arriving Sunday and called on people to refrain from rescuing their belongings from the rubble.

There was no risk of a tsunami and the water reservoirs in Manabi had not been affected, he added.

"Through calm, strength and faith, we will overcome this challenge from nature," said Glas, who was set to travel by helicopter to Pedernales, a popular tourist spot town of 40,000 near the quake's epicenter.

President Rafael Correa was rushing back home from Italy. He wrote on Twitter earlier on the day that he planned to visit the hard-hit city of Manta on Sunday night.

The government has tapped up to 300 million U.S. dollars for rescue and rebuilding efforts.

Saturday's earthquake was the strongest to hit Ecuador since 1979. Ecuador is located in a region with frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.