A magnitude-7.8 earthquake occurred Saturday evening local time on the coast of Ecuador, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The government of Ecuador said that at least 28 people have been killed.

The tremor was recorded at a depth of 19.2 kilometers (11.9 miles).

In Guayaquil, Ecuador's most populous city, shoppers were shaken by the quake. Video from a store showed kitchen utensils and pans hanging from an end cap swinging slightly back and forth and some items falling off shelves.

The lights in the store go out and alarms go off.

The shaking appears to last less than a minute.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued threat forecasts for many Pacific Ocean countries. It said waves reaching some parts of Ecuador could reach 1 meter (3 feet) above tide level.

Tsunami waves less than .3 meters (1 foot) above tide level could hit places as far away as Australia, the Hawaiian Islands and Taiwan, it said.

(CNN, AFP, RT)