22 dead in Ecuador floods, water crisis continues due to Esmeraldas oil spill
At least 22 people have died across Ecuador as of Monday, March 31, 2025, due to ongoing floods, and multiple landslides that have damaged tens of thousands of homes across the country, affecting nearly 145 000 people. Meanwhile, the oil spill in Esmeraldas continues to affect the province, with an ongoing water crisis worsening the conditions amidst floods.
Authorities in Esmeraldas assessing effects of the oil spill in Esmeraldas region. Image credit: Ministry of Environment
Persistent rains since January have caused widespread flooding and landslides across Ecuador, affecting nearly 145 000 people, many of whom have been displaced.
As of Monday, March 31, at least 22 people have died, while at least 98 have been injured across the country. 168 homes have been destroyed and over 36 000 damaged.
The conditions have worsened for the Esmeraldas Province, where a major oil spill occurred on March 13 after a part of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) got ruptured by a landslide. The region continues to be under a State of Emergency, with the oil spill affecting over 11 000 people.
Local authorities have been testing water samples across the province to assess the effects of the oil spill on the environment.
Authorities have continued to supply fresh water to communities in need, urging citizens to ration it. The government stated that they had distributed 1 515 hygiene kits, 900 cleaning kits, and 9 815 food rations as of March 31. Affected families were also provided with $470 in compensation.
References:
1 ECHO Daily Flash – DG ECHO – April 1, 2025
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
