According to scientists, earthquake activity has increased around the globe from the period of November to April. This situation came to light, following observations made by News1st, of several earthquakes which have occurred across the globe in the recent past. A major earthquake in Ecuador on Saturday, had claimed the lives of 272 people as of Monday, April 18. Foreign media reports indicate that the number of injured has increased to 2,527. Search and rescue operations for people trapped under buildings that were reduced to rubble in the Ecuador earthquake, are continuing. Landslides in the area are hampering rescue efforts. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake damaged roads in Western parts of the South American country and reduced several buildings to rubble. Thousands of people have been left homeless by the disaster. While an earthquake was also reported from Japan two days before the disaster in Ecuador, Professor Athula Senaratne of the Geology Department at the Peradeniya University