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7.8 Earthquake Hits Ecuador; Japan Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 32; Pope Brings Three Refugee Families to Rome; Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Visit Taj Mahal; Sanders Has "Extraordinary Meeting" With Pope; Clinton Slams Sanders on Gun Control; Cruz Wins Wyoming, Trump Focuses on New York; Things That Disgust Donald Trump. Aired 12-12:30a ET

Aired April 17, 2016 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[00:00:11] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: And to everyone, I'm Natalie Allen. Live from Atlanta, we're following two powerful earthquakes thousands of kilometers apart.

Rescue efforts still underway in Japan, but we begin in Ecuador, where a magnitude 7.8 quake has hit the coast, 28 people are confirmed dead so far, one of them killed in this bridge collapse in the city of Guayaquil. Some parts of the coast are at risk for tsunami waves, and evacuation efforts in those areas are underway.

The quake's epicenter was about 170 kilometers from the country's capital of Quito. Ecuador's vice president declared a national state of emergency and addressed what the country was doing to respond.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JORGE GLAS, VICE PRESIDENT OF ECUADOR: (through translator): We are continuing to receive information from the national system regarding health during this regrettable loss of life of citizens. The numbers still need to be confirmed. The entire public force is in a state of maximum alert to protect the lives of citizens. There are some zones in certain cities that do not have electricity as a result of tectonic movement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: The quake in Ecuador was at a greater depth than the one in Japan, but the damage could be as significant. Our meteorologist Derek Van Dam is following the story for us. He joins me now. Derek?

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Natalie, we've just gotten the latest information from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and they have given the all-clear from this particular earthquake, so the tsunami threat has passed from this particular earthquake. But nonetheless, let's get the details on this earthquake.

Here's Ecuador, let's zoom in a little bit closer to this region. Esmeraldas, an area where we're starting to see some of the first images of destruction coming out of this area, roughly about 300 kilometers away from Quito. This is the epicenter, we'll zoom in a little bit closer and turn on -- this is a shake map from the US Geological Survey.

I'll get a closer perspective, and you can see the boundary area where the earthquake was actually felt. And we're -- actually had the ability to put on population density that felt the most extreme shaking.

But there's a big difference between what Japan went through just 24 hours ago and what Ecuador has gone through within the past couple of hours. Not to belittle either of the situations, however, the main differences here is that this area is not nearly as populated as the area that Japan was struck with the most recent earthquake.

Let's zoom into this particular region, get a more of a 3D perspective. And what you're looking at here is shake map data. So, think of it as -- let's call it tall skyscrapers, tall buildings. These little cylindrical tubes, they represent the population densities that felt the shaking, and the smaller they are, the less people felt the shaking.

And that shading of orange representing just moderate to severe shaking. But nonetheless, there still are much destruction in this area that we're monitoring very closely. Again, getting the first bits of information from this area.

It was a 7.8 magnitude, local time at just before 7:00 PM. And the depth at 19.2 kilometers, again, about 300 kilometers just outside of Quito.

This is important because this falls on the Ring of Fire. This is the part of the world that experiences the most amounts of volcanoes and earthquakes, 90 percent of the world's earthquakes actually occur across this area.

And if we looked at the potential economic losses from this particular earthquake, we have the potential to see this surpass 10 to perhaps 100 million US dollars based on similar earthquake data with similar population densities and intensity. Natalie? More to come.

ALLEN: All right, thank you, Derek. We'll stay on top of the Ecuador situation. Now, we turn to Japan, where the death toll from Saturday's earthquake has now risen to 32 there. That's according to officials in Kumamoto Prefecture, the same region hit by a powerful tremor just two days earlier, killing nine people.

Emergency crews are searching for some two dozen people still missing and possibly trapped. Residents are pouring into evacuation centers as dozens of aftershocks continue to hit the area. Japan has now deployed 25,000 troops to join the search and rescue efforts.

Our Matt Rivers is in Kumamoto, the site of the earthquake. He joins us now. Well, Matt, the one good thing is the sun is out again after a difficult night of rain there. [00:05:00] MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is absolutely right. That really had a huge impact on the rescue efforts overnight. We've been here for roughly 24 hours, now, or so, and the rain was incredibly heavy last night at some points, and the wind was very strong.

And so, that really had a negative impact on the rescue efforts for some of the troops that you mentioned just now, as well as just local police and firemen. And that's not to say the Herculean task they face just based on the rubble that exists alone.

Take a look over my right shoulder, here. We're in one of the harder- hit sections of Kumamoto. You can see just the utter destruction here. This was two separate earthquakes that hit this area, once on Thursday, and then again on Saturday.

And you can just see, that's a roof that is now laying on the ground here. There's another roof right behind me. This was a full building right behind me that has just completely dropped to the ground because of the strength, the force of this earthquake.

And so, just driving around this area today, we've been able to see firsthand what these two earthquakes were able to do, and it is terrifyingly power. Natalie?

ALLEN: We can certainly see just from your vantage point there. What -- you have to wonder about the people's nerves and the elderly and what they're dealing with. How were the aftershocks throughout the evening?

RIVERS: Well, I can tell you, we spent the night last night, actually, at the exact same evacuation shelter as almost all of the people in this area are staying at, and we felt several different tremors throughout the night. In fact, they woke us up a couple different times.

And if that makes us a little bit nervous, you can imagine what it does to the people who have been through something much worse. Every time an aftershock comes in, whether it's relatively minor or at some points you can actually feel the ground sway back and forth between your feet.

You hear audible gasps from people, and then people are telling us, they're wondering if the next big one is coming. They're afraid that, really, the worst might not be over and that there might be an aftershock that could be bigger than the first two earthquakes that we saw already.

So, there's definitely a palpable sense of tension here. People are nervous. And when you look around here, it's not hard to understand why.

ALLEN: Absolutely. And it seems a miracle there weren't more killed in these twin earthquakes there. So, Matt Rivers, we thank you. We'll stay in touch with you. Save the Children has joined the relief work in Japan. Takumi Koide is the spokesman for the organization, and he joins me now on the phone from Kumamoto, the same place that Matt was just standing there.

Thanks so much for your time, Mr. . I have to ask, we've just seen people in shelters, we've seen rooftops and homes crumbled. What are the biggest needs right now for the people there?

TAKUMI KOIDE, SPOKESMAN, SAVE THE CHILDREN: (via telephone): Yes. Actually, the lifeline problems is very -- electricity, the water, the gas causing much problems. And also, the problem with accessibility. So, major roads broke down. Extremely heavy traffic jams every day cause the logistic problems. So, we have -- they need much distribution, about a dozen to reach here. So, that is a big problem.

ALLEN: Right. So, with all the roads torn up, do you have enough helicopter teams to help distribute the necessary things that people need? Because yesterday when I was talking with an official there in that city, they still hadn't reached or even talked with people in the outlying areas.

KOIDE: Yes, also the coordination problems and also the capacity of the authorities, that is more difficulty to this problem. So, actually, nobody knows who is in charge of this problem solving. But I think this is a heavy problem.

ALLEN: All right. Still much to do in the coordination, as you say. I remember yesterday seeing a mother giving her baby a bottle in a park. And we've seen these older people in the shelters. Are there any particular needs for the young and the very old?

KOIDE: Yes. We have the same -- same kinds of people. And actually, the stuff for babies is very limited. And also the stuff for -- food for aged people. So, we try to distribute the baby food today. And that can be also used by the aged people. And also, we have provided 20,000 packages of food yesterday, but we need more.

ALLEN: All right. Well, the world's listening, hopefully. Mr. Koide, also, at first, people were too afraid to go back into structures. They were sleeping in parks, staying outside. Are you seeing more people coming into shelters? And is there enough room for everyone?

[00:10:02] KOIDE: Actually, the -- a space for the rescue center is very contested, especially during the nighttime. And the school grounds where I am working from is full of vehicles where families come here during the night. And -- yes, it is very difficult for people to come back home during the night.

But today, I think due to the little of aftershocks decreased, so people go to their homes to clean and repair their homes.

ALLEN: And hopefully that will minimize, perhaps, some of the fear, as well, since they are diminishing. We appreciate you taking time with us. Takumi Koide, with the Save the Children program, and he's saying that there is a need for much more coordination and help in getting the necessary things that people need in the outlying areas. We hope that happens.

Ahead here, Pope Francis did more than pray for the migrants on his trip to Greece. He also set an example with a big gesture for three refugee families. We'll have that story ahead, here.

Plus, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Taj Mahal. The big question: would they sit on a bench made famous by Princess Diana? The answer right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: Twelve Syrian refugees once stranded in a Greek refugee camp are now living in Rome. Pope Francis brought three families back with him on his airplane after his visit to the island of Lesbos. Senior international correspondent Atika Shubert has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was a powerful and emotional visit. Pope Francis spent most of his time at the refugee and detention center of Camp Moria. He made his way through the camp, meeting hundreds of refugees. In fact, one little girl in pink collapsed at his feet. Another man broke down in tears, begging to be blessed by the pope.

And numerous people shook his hand, kissed his hand, but also passed these little messages, folded notes. And this was, perhaps, what was so powerful, that they were able to communicate their frustrations directly to the pope and ask him why isn't Europe opening the doors to refugees? He made a brief speech while he was at the camp. Take a listen to what he said.

POPE FRANCIS (through translator): I wanted to be with you today and tell you that you're not alone. In the past months and weeks, you have suffered a great deal searching for a better life. Many of you have been forced to flee from conflict and persecution.

[00:15:07] SHUBERT: Then came from the biggest surprise of the visit. The Vatican announced that the pope would be taking back 12 refugees on the plane back to Italy. Three Syrian families, two from Damascus, one from Deir ez-Zor, six children among them.

And the Vatican said it would be responsible for their application for asylum, and it would find homes for them and take care of them over the next six months.

Now, this is an extraordinary gesture, and a very symbolic gesture that really puts pressure on European nations to do the same, to take in more refugees, particularly those Catholic countries in Eastern Europe -- Poland and Hungary, for example -- who have really resisted the calls for them to take in more refugees.

So, Pope Francis making this visit and really setting the example here. It's not supposed to be a political visit, it is purely a religious one, but it will almost certainly have a tremendous political impact. Atika Shubert, CNN, in Lesbos, Greece.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: And while he was there, the pope also met with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras. And we asked the prime minister his thoughts on the significance of the pope's trip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXIS TSIPRAS, PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE: I think that it was a significant chance to give the correct messages to the global community in order to recognize the efforts of the Greek people and of Greece, in order to face this humanitarian crisis, this refugee crisis.

I think it was very -- it was too important for us because we tried from the very beginning to face this crisis in high difficulties. But I think that at the end of the day, we managed to keep our values and our principles when at the same time, in Europe, there were some of our partners that they didn't do the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: The United Nations Refugee agency says it welcomed the pope's showing of solidarity with the migrants and is calling on EU governments to speed up the relocation of refugees now in Greece.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrapped up their India tour by visiting one of the country's most iconic landmarks. At the Taj Mahal, William and Catherine sat for a picture at a bench made famous by William's mother, Princess Diana, in 1992 when she was there alone. CNN's Sumnima Udas has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As they arrived, many wondered, will they or won't they sit on the bench where Princess Diana posed for photos in February of 1992, looking lonely and wistful in front of the world's most famous monument to love.

She told her tour guide she wished her husband was with her. He was in India, but chose to meet with industrialists in New Delhi instead. Rumors were rife that the two weren't getting along, but this picture signaled the relationship wouldn't last.

Ten months later, the world came to know that they were separating, and this iconic image came to symbolize the end of what should have been a fairy tale relationship.

Twenty-four years on, her son and daughter-in-law followed in her footsteps, walking down the same exact path. As they approached a marble platform, the tour guide pointed out the now-famous Diana bench. They walked over.

And then, the moment so many had been waiting for. Smiling, with their knees touching. The moment was fleeting, under a minute. But the message was clear.

RIZWAN MOHAMMED, TOUR GUIDE: When they came down, I asked them, how did you feel? And they were quite, just feel really honored to be at the same spot.

UDAS: The guide tells us Catherine was particularly curious about the love story, why the Indian emperor, Shah Jahan, built the 17th-century mausoleum for his beloved wife.

UDAS (on camera): As they left, reporters asked Prince William how he felt, what was going through his mind, and he said, "It's beautiful."

UDAS (voice-over): Why Prince William chose to make the Taj Mahal his last stop, what were his thoughts, we may never know. Will it create new memories, as he had hoped, and erase the ghosts of his past? Almost time will tell.

Sumnima Udas, CNN, Agra, India.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: US Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz has won big in Wyoming. Coming up, hear why Republican front-runner Donald Trump says he's not too worried about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:21:11] ALLEN: A quick recap on some breaking news this hour. A powerful earthquake on the coast of Ecuador has killed at least 41 people. The country is in a state of emergency, but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says the tsunami threat has mostly threat. Cautionary evacuations are still underway.

Aftershocks could become the big concern now. There have been 36 already, with more possible The quake's epicenter was about 170 kilometers from the capital, Quito. The extent of the damage there and elsewhere is still not clear. We'll continue to bring you more information as we get it here.

US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says he's had an extraordinary meeting with Pope Francis, but he's not sharing what the pope told him. On Saturday, Sanders arrived back in New York from Rome, a quick trip. The senator tells CNN he thanked the pope for raising awareness about economic inequality.

Sanders was at the Vatican for a conference and briefly met with Francis before the pope flew to a migrant camp in Greece, we've been telling you about. The pope had this to say about the meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS (through translator): It was manners. It's called manners and not getting involved in politics. If anyone thinks that a greeting is getting involved in politics, then I recommend they look for a psychiatrist.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: The Democratic front-runner, Hillary Clinton, has repeatedly attacked Sanders on gun control. Twenty years ago, the Vermont senator voted against a key law mandating federal background checks on gun sales. But now, Sanders says he supports gun control reform. Still, on Saturday, Clinton slammed him again while campaigning in California.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, US DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will continue to take on the gun lobby for common sense gun safety.

(CROWD CHEERS)

CLINTON: This is one of the biggest differences between Senator Sanders and myself. And no matter how often he's asked by family members of those who have been murdered, he sticks to his talking points.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Now to the Republican side. Candidate Ted Cruz celebrating a big win in Wyoming, but Donald Trump is still in the lead for their party's nomination. And as our Ana Cabrera reports, the Republican front-runner focused instead on Tuesday's more crucial New York primary.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Cruz camp celebrating a big win here in Wyoming. They walked away with all the 14 delegates who were elected here at the state convention. That essentially met their expectations.

Cruz was the only candidate who had an organized campaign presence in this state. They began recruiting grassroots volunteers and supporters as early as last fall. Trump saying he didn't want to waste resources in this state, in fact, saying that this weekend.

And again, criticizing the delegate election process here. This is a state that elects its delegates to the national convention through state conventions and county conventions instead of an open primary. And I talked to one Trump supporter here who said had it been the other way around and there had been a primary here, well, the results may have told a much different story.

JUDY JONES, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Because people could go to the polls and actually vote for their man. I never liked the idea of one person deciding 1500 people's vote. I just -- it just never rubs me right, it just always bothered me. One man, one vote.

CABRERA: Ted Cruz picking up more momentum after this weekend coming out of Wyoming, although Trump and Kasich, who were in New York campaigning this weekend, expect to turn the tide come Tuesday.

[00:25:02] Ana Cabrera, CNN, Casper, Wyoming.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Well, "disgusting" may be one of Donald Trump's favorite insults. He's been using the word a lot lately to vent about the presidential race. But CNN's Jeanne Moos has the long list of other things that disgust Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You can tell how upset Donald Trump is by how many "disgustings" he uses per rally.

DONALD TRUMP, US REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's a rigged, disgusting, dirty system. It's disgusting, really disgusting. Clean up this dirty, rotten, disgusting system.

MOOS: The fact that he was so disgusted at the electoral system got us wondering, what else disgusts The Donald? Plenty, starting with us.

TRUMP: Disgusting reporters, horrible people.

(CROWD CHEERS)

TRUMP: Some are nice.

MOOS: By now, we all know that Donald thinks --

TRUMP: Rosie O'Donnell's disgusting. She's disgusting.

MOOS: But Bette Midler also got the Rosie treatment, as did Barney Franks -- brace yourself -- "disgusting nipples protruding in his blue shirt."

When it was suggested that Trump has cheated at golf, he told "People" Magazine, "That's disgusting." And talk about tilting at windmills.

TRUMP: Disgusting windmills.

MOOS: Disgust has been the subject of an academic study.

MOOS (on camera): Disgust sensitivity, researchers call it. People with more conservative viewpoints were found to be more easily disgusted by things, like touching toilet seats.

MOOS (voice-over): And the one thing The Donald really finds disgusting: bodily fluids. Remember when Hillary returned late from a debate break?

CLINTON: Sorry.

MOOS: The Donald went off.

TRUMP: I know where she went. It's disgusting, I don't want to talk about it. MOOS: Then there was the attorney who got in a fight with Trump about taking a break from a deposition to breast pump.

ELIZABETH BECK, ATTORNEY: He shook his finger at me, and he screamed, "You're disgusting. You're disgusting."

MOOS: And The Donald was always mocking Marco Rubio for sweating.

TRUMP: Honestly, it was disgusting, all right?

MOOS: But disgusting cuts both ways. High above the Rose Parade, a sky-writing plane gave Trump attitude and altitude.

Jeanne Moos, CNN.

TRUMP: It's disgusting.

MOOS: New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: We'll probably hear that word again. It's a long way until voting day. Thank you for watching. I'll be right back with our top stories and our breaking news out of Ecuador.

[00:27:45] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)