Landslides and flooding claim 12 lives with Guayas, Manabí, and Los Ríos Provinces the hardest hit

Twelve people have been reported dead as a result of flooding and landslides and the National Secretariat of Risk Management (SNGR) expects the toll to rise. Although the entire country has experienced persistent rainfall during the past 10 days, the most affected provinces are Guayas, Manabí, and Los Ríos.

Two members of a family died when a landslide destroyed their home in Celica, Loja Province.

In addition to the deaths, SNGR reports 2,211 people have been left homeless due to destruction or damage to more than 19,000 homes. It also says 14 bridges have been damaged, with three destroyed, and at least 15 highways and roads are closed as a result of flooding and landslides.

The National Meteorology Institute warns that more rain is on the way as a result of a “continuing stream of moisture flowing westward” from the Amazon region. The area most as risk through Wednesday, the weather service says, is the coastal and littoral provinces, but added that the inter-mountain valley will also see more rain. “Azuay, Bolívar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi and Loja provinces should also be on alert for flooding and landslides,” it said.

The Transportation Ministry is working with emergency personnel near the Portoviejo River, which remains above flood stage. “There has been considerable damage to homes and infrastructure as a result of flooding and we are working around the clock to help the affected residents,” Transportation Minister Roberto Luque said Sunday. “We are concentrating our efforts in Portoviejo and Cañitas where the damage is the greatest.”

Cuenca and Azuay Province saw moderate rainfall overnight Sunday and Monday, triggering landslides on several roads highways. The Transportation Ministry said it would issue a list of the affected roads later Monday morning.

Mass evacuations have been ordered for residents near several coastal rivers, including almost 50,000 in Manabí Provinces and 13,000 in Guayas. Fifteen shelters have been opened in four coastal provinces, Risk Management says.

Among the deaths reported Sunday were of a child who drowned in Piñas, El Oro Province, and two members of a Loja family crushed to death by a landslide in Celica, Loja Province.