It's been 48 hours after the devastating earthquake struck Ecuador, and at least 413 people have been confirmed dead, with 2,500 reportedly injured, according to the country's Ministry of Security Coordination.

QUITO, April 18, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Image provided by Public News Agency of Ecuador and South America ANDES shows people organizing relief supplies to be transported to the affected areas by the earthquake in a collecion center installed at the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES, for its acronym in Spanish), in the city of Quito, Ecuador, on April 18, 2016. Rescue teams in Ecuador intensified efforts on Monday to rescue people and find bodies trapped in the rubble caused by Saturday night's 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which has left at least 350 people dead and 2,068 injured. (Xinhua/Carlos Rodriguez/ANDES)

Drone images show an entire town flattened in Pedernales, an area close to the epicentre.

Rebuilding destroyed areas will probably cost billions of dollars, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said during a visit to Pedernales, one of the worst-affected regions.

And along the Pacific coast, in the towns of Manta and Portoviejo, many have been left homeless. CCTV correspodent Dan Collyns has more from Portoviejo.

As you get closer to the earthquake's epicenter, the devastation is overwhelming.

QUITO, April 18, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Image provided by Public News Agency of Ecuador and South America ANDES shows people organizing relief supplies to be transported to the affected areas by the earthquake in a collecion center installed at the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES, for its acronym in Spanish), in the city of Quito, Ecuador, on April 18, 2016. Rescue teams in Ecuador intensified efforts on Monday to rescue people and find bodies trapped in the rubble caused by Saturday night's 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which has left at least 350 people dead and 2,068 injured. (Xinhua/Carlos Rodriguez/ANDES)

In Portoviejo, the people are in shock, many still in disbelief. What's clear is that the quake was powerful enough to flatten this restaurant.

While many buildings have collapsed, others are still standing but some still seemingly untouched by the quake. All of them are potential death traps if there's an aftershock which is why at night this town is deserted.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa cut short a state visit to the Vatican and came directly to the disaster zone.

In the early hours of the morning, he visited families left homeless by the quake on the grounds of a hospital.

Correa told CCTV it was a tragedy for his country: "Thank you for the solidarity. We have seen support from everywhere in the world. This is a tragedy. This is really a huge human drama." 

Hundreds of the families are spending their second night in the open.

"We're going through a very tough time; we're without food, water and electricity. There's no power in the whole town and we can't go back," said Piedad, Portoviejo resident.

These people were lucky to escape with their lives.

Here they will get the basic necessities, but the mood is somber, the whole town is grieving:

"There are lot of deaths just right here, our neighbors, it's very sad, whole homes collapsed with the people inside. On top of everything, we are very sad," said Gloria Rodriguez, Portoviejo resident.

As convoys of food, water and shelter arrive, thousands of soldiers and police are now providing security.

"The Ecuadorean people are very strong we will continue, we will go ahead, but thank you very much for the support from everywhere in the world," said Rafael Correa, Ecuadorian President.

For many, help is now at hand, but for some it's too late.