Heavy rainfall in Ecuador triggered a devastating landslide on Sunday, resulting in the loss of at least six lives and leaving 19 others injured.
This disaster occurred amidst a widespread rainstorm that impacted various parts of Central and South America.
Large-Scale Landslide Strikes Central Ecuador
The Ecuadorian Secretariat for Risk Management reported that the landslide, described as “large-magnitude,” struck the city of Baños de Agua Santa, located in the central part of the country. While initial reports indicated 30 missing individuals, authorities later confirmed that these people had been found.
Roberto Luque, Ecuador’s minister of public works, stated that the storm also disrupted operations at three hydroelectric plants. He expressed his condolences to the affected families on the social media platform X.
Low-Pressure System Triggers Widespread Rainfall
A low-pressure system caused the heavy rainstorm that swept across parts of Central and South America on Sunday. Several countries issued warnings regarding the heightened risk of landslides, rockfalls, and flooding.
In El Salvador, the civil protection agency declared a red alert in response to the torrential rains affecting the entire country. Meanwhile, in neighboring Guatemala, airlines were forced to divert flights due to the storm’s impact, according to the communications ministry.