An avalanche caused by the heaviest rain in the last two decades, which fell on Quito on Monday, left at least eleven dead and 32 wounded after destroying a sports field, authorities said.
“So far there is eleven deceased, 15 injured and we have eight collapsed structures”, said the mayor of the Ecuadorian capital, Santiago Guarderas.
We keep coordinating the emergency tasks due to the flood that occurred today, with the Metropolitan COE.
Technical personnel and heavy equipment, from EPMAPS and EPMMOP, are in the affected areas, carrying out search, rescue and debris removal tasks.
– Santiago Guarderas (@santiguarderas) February 1, 2022
However, the municipality later specified in a statement that “there are also 32 wounded” and that affected families were located in eight shelters.
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Accompanied by authorities such as Ecuadorian Vice President Alfredo Borrero, Guarderas explained in a virtual press conference that the torrential downpour exceeded the capacity of a water catchment structure located on a hillside and led to a torrent that “hit against a field” in which several people were practicing sports.
The Integrated Security Service ECU911 initially reported a balance of “15 injured and 6 deceased”, according to the command post activated in the event of an emergency.
The barrage, which originated on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, affected the sector of La Gasca, on the northwestern side of the capital of Ecuador, which has been enduring heavy downpours.
Currents of water, mud and stones went down the steep Gasca Avenue, trapping vehicles and flooding houses and streets, according to images released to the press by ECU911.
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Record Rain
Guarderas specified that Saturday’s rain was 3.5 liters per m2 and this Monday’s 75 liters per m2, when it was predicted two liters per m2.
It is “a record number, which we haven’t had it since 2003,” he added.
The emergency area also suffered the interruption of the electrical service due to the fall of poles.
The National Risk Management Service reported in turn that The Ministry of Health “attends and transports the wounded in 25 ambulances to different health houses”, while the municipality of Quito “mobilizes machinery for road cleaning”.
Some 60 soldiers were also mobilized to support search and rescue efforts. in charge of firefighters and police, who at night removed debris accumulated after the alluvium.
More information: Shocking hailstorm wreaked havoc in Quito, Ecuador
Due to the effects of the current rainy season in Ecuador, which since last October has hit 22 of the 24 provinces, was registered until Sunday 18 dead and 24 injured, as well as almost 2,800 affected and some 200 homeless, according to the National Risk Management Service.
The damage reaches highways, agricultural areas, housing and health and education centers.
