Rainy season ravages Ecuador, leaves 79 people dead, 39 missing and 14 184 homes damaged
Heavy rainfall since January wreaked havoc across Ecuador, leaving at least 79 people dead, 39 missing, and 66 000 affected.
Since the beginning of January, Ecuador has been experiencing severe weather, floods, and landslides due to heavy rainfall. This has resulted in a rising number of casualties and affected people throughout the country. The most impacted provinces include Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, El Oro, Cotopaxi, Santo Domingo de Los Tsáchilas, Esmeraldas, Imbabura, and Chimborazo.
The Ecuador Risk Communication Management Department (SGR) reported that 30 people have died this rainy season. Additionally, 49 fatalities and 39 missing persons were reported following the landslide in the Alausí Town area of Chimborazo Province on March 26. Moreover, 37 individuals have been injured due to the severe weather conditions.
Close to 66 000 people have been affected by the extreme weather, with Guayas Province accounting for 29 133 of those affected. A total of 14 184 houses have suffered damage, with 111 of them being destroyed entirely.
A massive landslide occurred on March 26 in the Canton of Alausí, impacting five neighborhoods and causing significant loss of life and infrastructure. The affected area spanned 24.3 ha (60 acres), directly impacting over 1 650 people. According to an April 5 report by SGR, infrastructure damage includes 163 affected houses, with 57 destroyed.
Public services have also been hit hard by the landslide, with 60% of potable water services disrupted, 25% of lighting networks, and 20% of sewage systems affected. Approximately 8 400 people faced indirect consequences, such as water supply issues and electricity interruptions, which hindered daily life and relief efforts. Additionally, 26 ha (64 acres) of agricultural land has been lost.
References:
1 Ecuador – Severe weather, floods and landslides, update ( NOAA-CPC, SGR) – DG ECHO – April 27, 2023
2 Ecuador: Landslides – March 2023 DREF Operation MDREC022 – IFRC – April 18, 2023
3 Deadly landslide hits Alausí, Ecuador, destroying homes and part of Pan-American Highway – The Watchers – March 27, 2023
Featured image credit: Edwin Salazar (stillshot)
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