Ecuador Earthquake: Maluma, Franco De Vita, More Stars To Perform At Benefit Concert In Miami

Maluma, Franco De Vita, Tommy Torres and Mariana Vega are some of the biggest Latino artists uniting to support the earthquake victims in Ecuador. The South American country was shaken by a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake on April 16, leaving a death toll of over 520 dead and more than 1,500 injured. Nearly a month after the shattering incident, music and TV artists will gather at a benefit concert to raise money for the country.

"Proceeds generated through ticket sales will be donated to the United Nations Development Programme who will administer these to those in Ecuador who need it most," according to the venue's official website. The benefit concert is called "Ecuador Aqui Estoy" (Ecuador, I'm here) and will take place 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 11 at the BankUnited Center in Miami, Fla. Confirmed artists for the concert, which is being organized with support from the Ecuadorian-American Chamber of Commerce in Miami, includes the following:

• Franco De Vita
• Gilberto Santa Rosa
• Maluma
• Willy Chirino
• Juan Fernando Velasco
• Amaury Gutierrez
• Jorge Villamizar
• Riccardo Perotti
• Donato Poveda
• Tommy Torres
• Mariana Vega
• Alexis Valdes
• Periko & Jessi Leon
• Mirella Cessa
• Sie7e
• Piter Albeiro
• Francisco Pinoargotti
• Fernando Arau

Although they will not be part of this great concert, other Latino stars have been in solidarity with the Ecuadorian community, such as Colombian actress Ximena Duque. Duque recently collected donations at a local beauty shop in Miami to help her Ecuadorian fans and friends.

The effects of the quake, which shook the central coast, could be felt in the capital, Quito, and into parts of Peru and Colombia. While Ecuador is known for having high-magnitude earthquakes, this has been the strongest for the nation since 1979.

Here are some ways to help out our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters:

• Ecuador Red Cross: The organization already has teams on the ground searching for survivors and assisting the injured.
• Global Shapers Quito: The local organization is raising funds in order to provide food, water, clothing, medicines and blankets to the victims.
• UNICEF: As they continue to assess the needs of children in the most affected areas, UNICEF has delivered 20,000 water purification tables to the most devastated zones.
• Samaritan’s Purse: The religious organization is coordinating with local community churches and officials, and will be sending medical staff later on this week.
• World Vision: They have deployed emergency response staff to setup shelters and help with the aid distribution.
• Oxfam International: The organization says they are working with “contacts on the ground” to see how they can assist government first responders.

Latin Times reporter Natalie Roterman contributed to this story