A landslide struck a highway in Ecuador’s central city of Banos de Agua Santa on Sunday, killing at least six people and injuring 19 others. The Secretariat for Risk Management reported that 30 people initially declared missing were later located. Banos de Agua Santa, located approximately 135 kilometers (84 miles) south of Quito, experienced this devastating event following heavy rains that caused rivers to overflow. The mud and debris from the landslide impacted three cars, two houses, and a bus, according to the local fire department.
Mayor Miguel Guevara of Banos de Agua Santa warned residents to avoid dangerous roads, highlighting the ongoing risk. Ecuadorian Public Works Minister Roberto Luque expressed his solidarity with affected families on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and assured that authorities were addressing the situation. The landslide hampered rescue efforts, with Deputy Fire Chief Captain Angel Barriga stating that nine people were being treated on-site. However, rescue operations faced significant challenges as additional landslides and heavy rains blocked or washed away several roads. State emergency agency ECU 911 cautioned that weather conditions were not conducive to clearing the road quickly.
The heavy rains triggering the landslide were caused by low-pressure systems across Central and South America, increasing the risk of landslides, rock falls, and flooding in several countries. In Ecuador, water from the Pisque River overflowed, flooding an amusement park. A red alert for heavy rains was issued in El Salvador, where a recent landslide killed two children. As a precaution, incoming flights to El Salvador were diverted to neighboring Guatemala, according to its communications ministry.
