KEY POINTS
- At least six people have died in landslides in Baños, a city in central Ecuador
- The landslide come after days of heavy rain
- The main road has been cut off, schools are closed and locals have been told to drink bottled water
- A state of emergency has been declared and machinery has been deployed to the area to clear roads blocked by rocks and mud
Torrential rains trigger deadly landslides in Ecuador
At least six people have died in landslides in Baños, a city in central Ecuador. Several homes were buried under tons of mud after days of heavy rain.
More than a dozen people were injured, and a main road was cut off. A state of emergency has been declared in Baños.
Officials reported that 30 people who were initially missing have been found alive. Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear roads blocked by rocks and mud.
Local media reported that five of the six people who died were from the same family. Residents have been advised to stock up on bottled water as the tap water supply may be affected by the severe rains.
The city’s mayor urged locals to stay home to minimise traffic on affected roads. Schools in Baños will be closed on Monday, with classes held online instead. A shelter has been opened for those whose homes were damaged.
Meteorologists explained that the heavy rains were caused by a low-pressure system that moved over Ecuador on Sunday. This comes just months after the country experienced a drought. The low-pressure system has since moved north, prompting El Salvador to warn of possible flooding and landslides.