Coca River erosion closes in on Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant; Country’s first yellow fever case reported; Ecuador ranks high for rainy days

The erosion of the Coca River is continuing to advance upstream at a rapid rate and is threatening the catchment area of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, according to a new assessment by researchers at the National Polytechnic University. “The rate of progression is alarming and could be catastrophic for communities near the river as well as for the power plant,” says lead researcher Carolina Bernal.

Although she did not predict when the erosion would incapacitate Coca Codo Sinclair, previous studies have estimated the plant has as little as seven years of active service remaining. “I repeat previous recommendations that the government prepare for a shutdown and develop new generation capacity to replace what will be lost,” Bernal said.

Erosion on the Coca River threatens the Coca Coda Sinclair hydroelectric plant as well as nearby communities, pipelines and roads.

Currently, Coca Codo Sinclair produces 20% to 25% of the country’s electricity.

In addition to the power plant, erosion threatens several communities, petroleum pipelines and the Quito-Lago Agrio highway. “There is an immediate threat to the El Chaco community in the Amazon region,” she said. “Because there is no way to stop the progress of the erosion, plans must be made to relocate residents since their homes and farms will soon fall into the river.”

The erosion was first detected in 2020, 20 kilometers upstream from Coca Codo Sinclair, Bernal says. “Today, the erosion is only seven kilometers from the water intake area of the plant,” she said. “Coca Coda’s days are numbered.”

First yellow fever case reported
The Ministry of Health reports the country’s first case of yellow fever in 2025, a 26-year-old man in Zamora Chinchipe Province. The ministry says it is on “high alert” as a result of an outbreak in Colombia.

“The situation in Colombia reminds us that we must be prepared for the disease and urge residents to be vaccinated and to take environmental precautions to reduce the spread of disease-carrying mosquitos,” the ministry said. “Yellow fever is known for its high death rate among those infected.” In Colombia, 26 of the 61 reported cases have resulted in death.

The ministry said that yellow fever is a threat in wet, low-lying areas such as the Ecuadorian Amazon and coastal region.

After first reporting that the infected man in Zamora Chinchipe was expected to recover, the ministry announced Friday morning that he had died.

Ecuador ranks high for rainy days
Ecuador is one of the rainiest countries in the world in terms of average number of rainy days per year. In a recent ranking by environmental monitoring service Neomam Studios, three Ecuadorian cities rank in the top 10 in the world for rainy days.

Quito ranks third with 252 rainy days; Sangolquí is fifth with 245; and Baños de Ambato is sixth with 244.

Two Colombian cities, Buenaventura and Manizales, rank first and second worldwide for rainy day days, with 258 and 257, respectively.

Neomam Studios points out that cities with the most rainy days do not necessarily receive the highest annual rainfall totals. Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, India, are the world leaders for total rainfall, receiving 11,871 millimeters (467 inches) and 11,777 millimeters (464 inches,) respectively.

In Ecuador, Quito receives an average of 1,295 millimeters (51 inches) of rainfall a year; Guayaquil receives 1,026 millimeters (40.5 inches); and Cuenca receives 711 millimeters (28 inches).