Ecuador Rain Toll Rises to 20 Amid Widespread Damage

Ecuador is grappling with the severe impact of continuous rainfall, which has resulted in 20 fatalities since the beginning of 2026, as reported by the National Risk Management Secretariat (SNGR). The latest victim was recorded on Tuesday in the Andean province of Azuay, where a landslide triggered by intense rains claimed one life.

Earlier, a man in Cotopaxi province died after being carried away by a flood. Beyond the deaths, the adverse weather has affected 124,520 individuals, destroyed 293 homes, and damaged 72.95 kilometers of roadways across the nation. The coastal Guayas province, including its capital Guayaquil, has been the most impacted region with 62,353 affected residents, followed by Los Ríos province with 33,634.

However, the provinces of Cotopaxi and Azuay have recorded the highest death tolls, with five and four fatalities respectively. In response to these ongoing events, 17 of Ecuador's 24 provinces are under a preventive yellow alert since May 19. This measure aims to prepare local communities for potential impacts associated with the El Niño phenomenon, encouraging the activation of emergency committees and the strengthening of protective measures for the population against floods and landslides.