Drought conditions persist in Cuenca as new wildfires burn near Nabon; city utilities officials monitor water usage, urging conservation

Firefighters work to contain a brush fire new Nabon. Photo credit: El Mercurio

Firefighters reported several new wild fires Thursday and Friday south of Cuenca, and said at least two of them remain out of control. They said that about 100 hectares of native forests and grasslands have been burned so far.

In Cuenca, utilities officials continue to urge residents to conserve water due to ongoing drought conditions. The say the area has received several small showers since late September but they have offered little relief. Although some areas of the sierra, including Quito, have received significant rainfall, Cuenca has received only 2.5 millimeters of rain, or about a tenth of an inch, since September 26.

The volume flow of Cuenca’s rivers increased earlier this week from showers in the Cajas Mountains, but have fallen since then.