Landslide closes Cuenca-Guayaquil highway

Three landslides shut down travel between Cuenca and Guayaquil Wednesday. The slides followed heavy rainfall that is also causing problems on Highway 35 in Cañar and Chimboroza Provinces.

One of three landslides Wednesday near Cuenca. (El Tiempo)

The Ministry of Transportation and Public Works said that two of the three landslides on the Guayaquil highway had been partially cleared by Wednesday night but a third, near Molleturo in the Cajas Mountains, would not be cleared until Thursday or Friday, depending on the weather.

Boris Palacios, regional director of the ministry, said signs have been erected to divert traffic and recommends that those driving to Guayaquil take the Cañar-LaTroncal highway, off of 35, in northern Cañar Province.

“We are delayed in working on the large landslide by continuing rain and cannot move heavy equipment into the area until it ends,” Palacios said.

Rain fell over much of Ecuador Tuesday night and most of the day Wednesday, the country’s meteorological office reported. It predicted partial clearing on Thursday.