The death toll from a 5.1-magnitude quake that struck Ecuador rose to three Wednesday with the recovery of a body in an area near Quito where a hillside collapsed.

Authorities said the victim was a worker at a bridge that was under construction over the Monjes river, 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the capital.

The quake, which was shallow and lasted more than 20 seconds, triggered landslides and sent terrified Quito residents fleeing into the streets after it struck Tuesday at 2:58 pm (1958 GMT).

The two other fatalities were a man who was working in a quarry when the quake hit, and a young boy, officials said.

Ecuador is located along the Pacific Ocean's seismically turbulent "Ring of Fire," which makes it prone to earthquakes.

(AFP)