President Park Geun-hye has offered deep condolences to her Ecuadorian counterpart, Rafael Correa, over the deadly earthquake that struck the South American country, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.

In a message to Correa, Park expressed hope that Ecuador will quickly pick up the pieces after the earthquake, according to the South Korean presidential office.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador on Saturday, leaving at least 480 people dead and some 4,600 people injured. (Yonhap)