48 rescued from Ecuador river surge, including 10 firefighters

In Ecuador's Amazonian province of Zamora Chinchipe, emergency services have successfully rescued 48 individuals who were swept away by the surging waters of the Zamora River. Among those rescued were ten firefighters who were part of the initial response efforts.

The dramatic incident unfolded after the Zamora River overflowed its banks on Friday night. The resulting floods inundated several sectors of Guadalupe, a locality within the Zamora municipality. The National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR) confirmed the rescue operation and is coordinating ongoing response and recovery efforts with various national and decentralized risk management systems.

Personnel from Zonal Coordination 7 have been deployed to the affected area to manage the situation on the ground. The Zamora Fire Department, in collaboration with the Armed Forces, continues to conduct search and rescue operations. The Ministry of Public Health and other relevant entities are providing assistance to those affected by the flooding.

Details regarding the health status of the rescued individuals have not yet been released by the SNGR. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of all affected and managing the consequences of the river's overflow.