Ecuador: at Least 8 Killed in Heavy Rains, Landslide

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Facts

• The central Ecuadorian city of Banos on Sunday declared a state of emergency after at least six people were killed in landslides caused by days of torrential rain.¹
• On Monday, two more bodies were recovered, adding to Sunday's six deaths. Landslides and flooding in 13 Ecuadorian provinces destroyed bridges, highways, and access between the highlands and Amazonia.²
• The National Secretariat for Risk Management initially reported 30 people missing but later declared them all accounted for. Online videos and images showed mud and debris rushing down a hillside and obstructing a highway.³
• City officials advised Banos residents to stock up on bottled water, as severe rains could affect the tap water supply. Officials advised locals to stay at home to minimize traffic on affected roads.¹
• The rainstorm and flooding also caused disruptions at three hydroelectric plants, according to Ecuador's minister of public works Roberto Luque.⁴
• This comes as at least another 13 people have died in landslides across Central America, with 11 fatalities recorded in El Salvador and two in Guatemala.⁵

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Yahoo News, ³Al Jazeera, ⁴Reuters and ⁵France 24.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Washington Post. This type of rainfall, and the damage it can cause, should not come as a surprise, considering scientists have been issuing warnings about this for many years. Climate change and El Niño are the primary catalysts for heat intensification, resulting in sea warming and a subsequent increase in land precipitation. These changes will likely contribute to a higher occurrence of natural disasters, so nations and local authorities must take measures to prepare for them and battle climate change.
• Narrative B, as provided by SpringerOpen. Climate change may exacerbate the situation, but Ecuador's location along the Andean mountain range — prone to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes — renders it susceptible to landslides, and it's especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides due to unplanned rapid urbanization. To ensure that city expansions are safe, the government must take control of city planning.