The government of Ecuador intends to investigate if poor engineering, architectural, or construction practices contributed to the high death toll of the 16 April Earthquake and ensuing aftershocks.  And if there was negligence, there will be criminal charges.

"There are individuals who acted with the intention to save a few extra pennies, and by doing so constructed death traps that were approved by local authorities," said President Rafael Correa.  As had happened in many previous disasters, the force of an earthquake can rip open buildings, revealing a litany of sins committed in the name of the budget.

"It was easy to see that there was very little rebar in the cement, I would like to see an investigation about responsibility," said hotel owner and builder Joost Birnie to the Venezuelan TV network Telesur.  He walked the debris-littered streets of his home town of Canoa, and noticed sign after sign of poor construction.  "I would like to see the engineers and architects check building by building," said Mr. Birnie, "Because they collapsed really one piece on top of the other, and the people, they were in there."

Engineers have arrived in Ecuador alongside the aid deliveries to the thousands of people routed from their homes.  Venezuelan engineer Jairo Ovallos told Telesur that the numerous collapsed and heavily damaged buildings "indicate that the inadequate techniques, the poor quality of some of the building materials, and some techniques erroneously used such as the use of sand, amongst others".