Heavy rains cause flooding in Ecuador. More than 20 people die in a landslide in Quito.
Update from Thursday, February 3rd, 2022, 5.30 p.m .: Around 6000 barrels of oil (159 liters each) leaked out in the rainforest of Ecuador. As the South American country’s energy ministry announced on Wednesday (February 2, 2022), 5,000 barrels had already been transported away.
After heavy rainfall, a landslide in the Piedra Fina region of Napo province caused a leak in a pipeline belonging to the energy company OCP at the end of last week. The escaping oil contaminated the vegetation in the adjacent rainforest.
Ecuador has the third largest oil reserves in South America and recently produced around 175 million barrels of oil per year. Due to massive environmental damage, however, the promotion in the Amazon region has been criticized.
First report from Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022, 2:28 p.m.: Quito – Ecuador is struggling with heavy rainfall and flooding. It should be the hardest in two decades. At least 24 people died in a landslide in the capital Quito alone. Twelve more are still missing, 48 people are injured, the authorities in the South American country reported on Tuesday evening (02/01/2022). Heavy rains are the cause of the landslide. On Monday (01/31/2022) alone, 75 liters of rain per square meter fell.
The floods in Ecuador began on Monday (01/31/2022) on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, the local mountain of the capital of Ecuador. According to Quito’s Mayor Santiago Guarderas, 75 liters per square meter fell on that day alone. Footage from local media showed the floodwaters reaching the streets of Quito as relief workers help people to escape the floodwaters. Cars were swallowed up by rubble and mud, and houses were flooded.
Ecuador: Heavy rains cause catch basins to overflow
The torrential rain caused a catch basin on the slope of the volcano to overflow, according to Quito’s Mayor Guarderas. The basin had previously held almost four times the usual amount of water, reports the mayor. A tidal wave about one kilometer long then flooded a sports field where volleyball players were training in front of an audience. It remained unclear how many of them are among the victims.
Guarderas said it hadn’t rained as much as it did on Monday since 2003. Soldiers support the rescue workers in the clean-up and rescue work. On Tuesday (February 1st, 2022), the authorities did not rule out that more dead people could be found under the mud and rubble. However, soldiers continue to use dogs to search for survivors.
Landslide in Ecuador leads to environmental disaster
Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso expressed his condolences to the Opera family. Authorities would continue their search and rescue efforts, as well as the cleanup effort. Affected families will receive humanitarian aid and be provided with food, clothing and hygiene items and receive psychological care, the President announced on Twitter. The injured would be cared for in health centers. The Ministry of Construction is getting an overview of the damage to houses and is working to find solutions for homeless families, explained Guillermo Lasso.
Already on Friday (January 28th, 2022) heavy rains in the province of Nopo in eastern Ecuador caused a mudslide that subsequently damaged an oil pipeline. The spilled oil had also contaminated springs and rivers from which indigenous people get their water. The operator, OCP Ecuador, said it had started repairs and that the leaking oil would be collected in catch basins and transported away.
Ecuador: Scores dead after heavy rains and landslides
Since October 2021, heavy rains have hit 22 of Ecuador’s 24 provinces. According to civil protection, at least 18 people were killed and 24 injured by Sunday (01/30/2022). Researchers have been warning for a long time that climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events such as heavy rain worldwide. (ms/AFP) *fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubrics: © Diego Pastillo/Ministry of the Environment Ecuador/dpa
