Severe weather conditions have led to widespread chaos across southern Ecuador, prompting the National Secretariat of Risk Management (SNGR) to declare a regional state of emergency as the rainy season wreaks havoc. On February 25, 2025, SNGR issued Resolution No. SNGR-050-2025, marking the initiation of emergency measures for 60 days across multiple provinces, including Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Santa Elena, Loja, and Azuay.
This action stems from the devastating impacts of the rainy season, which have resulted in nearly 1,182 adverse events, including floods, landslides, and structural collapses between January 1 and March 4, 2025. Following the alarming situation, the SNGR had previously issued Resolution No. SNGR-046-2025 on February 24, declaring various alert levels across affected provinces as part of its response efforts.
The emergency, classified as Level 4: Disaster, has directly affected over 75,000 individuals, or roughly 20,000 families. Notably, the province of Manabí has endured the brunt of the damage, with approximately 50,011 individuals impacted by 125 reported adverse events. Guayas faced its own challenges, with 13,226 individuals affected by 162 adverse occurrences.
Within El Oro province, the Piñas canton has emerged as one of the most severely impacted areas. Following the issuance of the emergency on February 25, Piñas saw over 14 adverse events, including significant flooding on February 24 and February 28. The latter flood, attributed to the overflow of the San Roque river, forced approximately 400 individuals from their homes and resulted in 81 injuries and two tragic fatalities.
On the emergency response front, the Piñas Cantonal Emergency Operations Committee (COE) declared its sessions permanent as of the February 25 announcement, activating various organizational bodies including six Provincial COEs, 46 Cantonal COEs, and 10 Parish Commissions for Emergencies (COPAE) to coordinate relief efforts effectively across the impacted territories.
Beyond these dire developments, on March 11, 2025, cleanup operations were mobilized after the Malacatos and Zamora rivers overflowed, damaging buildings and causing the collapse of bridge infrastructure. The city of Loja, with its population of 215,000, was severely impacted, leading local authorities to alert residents of additional rainfall expected on March 12. The situation remains precarious as weather forecasts indicated continued heavy rainfall, causing safety concerns for residents.
Experts are urging vigilance, especially as crews clear debris and prepare for any potential additional flooding. Local rivers, having reached dangerously high levels, continue to pose significant risks to the areas bordering the Peruvian border, raising alarms for both residents and emergency services alike.
The unified response efforts are imperative not only for immediate disaster management but also for long-term recovery strategies as communities grapple with the aftermath of these extreme weather events. The challenges posed by the rainy season highlight the urgent need for contingency plans and continued coordination among local governing bodies, aiming for resilience against future natural disasters.
Given the impact of the rainy season so far, it’s clear the path to recovery will require comprehensive strategies involving government agencies, local organizations, and community participations to rebuild what nature has taken and to prepare for what might lie ahead.