Flood in Ecuador

Intense rain and flooding caused by the El Niño climate pattern affected seventeen provinces in Ecuador since 20 February 2024. Provinces mostly impacted included Esmeraldas, Manabi, Santa Elena, Guayas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Ríos, and El Oro along the coastal region.

One person died in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas province, after a vehicle fell into a sinkhole on the La Concordia-Monterrey-Las Villegas Highway. Homes, roads, and bridges were damaged or destroyed due to the rapid rise in water levels. Four deaths from dengue fever were reported by the Ministry of Health as flooding increased the threat of disease outbreaks such as stagnant pools were becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes and bacteria, increasing the incidence of insect- and water-borne diseases. Crops were submerged, impacting local farmers and food production.

Emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue stranded individuals and provide aid. Authorities considered issuing mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone communities.