A nun from Derry is among the 272 people killed by the Ecuador earthquake

Sister Clare Theresa Crockett has been described as "a beautiful person."

A nun from Derry has died following the devastating earthquake that hit Ecuador. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett was working in a school at the Playa Prieta area of the country with the Home of the Mother order when the earthquake struck. The Order said six of their members died in the tragedy. No children were in the school at the time as it was the weekend. More than 270 people died in the tragedy and in a statement to the BBC, Sister Crockett's order have said: "On Sunday 17 April, we lost our daughter, sister and aunt Sister Clare Theresa Crockett as a result of the earthquake in Ecuador. She was situated in a school in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother order. At this difficult time we would ask for privacy." Fr Roland Cahoon, who was the spiritual director for the lady from Derry, has described her as, "a joyful girl, I've known her since she was a teenager. A beautiful person. I'll remember the joy that she brought to her youth group and the enthusiasm she showed for her vocation to religious life." The 7.8-magnitude quake struck Ecuador’s capital, Quito, shortly before 1am on Saturday night. The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided contact details for anyone that might be worried about a loved one in Ecuador. https://twitter.com/dfatravel/status/721610142706507776 Main image via - Home of the Mother