Flooding emergency declared in Esmeraldas as agricultural losses mount in three provinces

The National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) has declared a state of emergency in Muisne and Eloy Alfaro cantons in Esmeraldas Province following two weeks of heavy rain. “Damage is widespread in the province and is catastrophic in communities in these cantons,” the COE said Sunday. “Because rivers have overflowed, we have large tracts underwater, including homes, agricultural fields and highways.”

A flooded community in the Muisne canton.

COE estimates that 2,500 families, or more than 7,500 people, have been affected by the flooding in Muisne and Eloy Alfaro, with 400 families suffering severe damage, including loss of homes, crops and livestock. In the San Gregorio and Cabo San Francisco parishes, the Ecuador Association of Municipalities (AME) reports that seven homes were washed away by flood waters. “The losses here are almost incalculable,” says AME President Yuri Colorado.

According to Colorado, the flooding in the two parishes is the “worst ever recorded” and the rains continue. “The situations here are heartbreaking and what worries us is that El Niño is just beginning. The meteorological service tells us this could continue until February.”

Colorado says that some relief supplies are arriving, but flooded roads are making recovery difficult. “We are receiving food, water and other basic supplies by boat but there are not enough boats to deliver what the people need.”

Colorado adds that Esmeraldas is not the only province suffering from flooding and that damage is reported in Manabi, Los Rios, Guayas, Santa Elena and El Oro Provinces. “The Risk Management office estimates that 40,000 people are seriously effected and that 4,000 or homeless as a result of the floods.”

On Monday, Risk Management reported that 16 rivers are above flood stage in coastal provinces.

Agriculture has also suffered extensive damage from flooding, the Ministry of Agriculture says. On Friday, the country’s two largest sugarcane mills suspended operations as thousands of hectares of sugarcane fields were under as much as three feet of water in Guayas Province. According to the ministry, the closures put 3,600 people temporarily out of work.

The ministry says it is too early to calculate losses, but severe damage is being reported with banana, rice, coca and other crops. “Much of the growing and harvesting process has stopped because of flooding,” it said.

On Monday, shrimp producers reported they are suffering heavy losses as their ponds have flooded and are contaminated. A growers’ association reported that production is down 10% since early last week and losses are increasing.