Disaster amidst disaster in Ecuador

The country Ecuador, which is known for its natural biodiversity and UNESCO’s biosphere reserve, is currently facing multiple crises and disaster situations.

While on one hand, the Global pandemic COVID-19 has spread its killer wings across the country killing over 300 people and affecting more than 7000 as on date (source- www.worldometers.info ), the capital city of Quito and other Amazon’s regions of Ecuador are reeling under severe floods.

As Corona is badly affecting the port city of Guayaquil, whereas many as 800 corona affected dead bodies have been recovered, the capital city Quito is facing another natural disaster in the form of widespread flooding that occurred due to heavy continued rainfall from April 11th. Due to Breach in the swollen banks of river ‘Cauphicho’, about 20 locations in the south of Quito city got inundated with several houses damaged, as per the official information from the National Service for Risk and Emergency Management of Ecuador (SNGRE). Although no casualties are reported in the region but two houses were badly collapsed and widespread damages of Infrastructures are reported in the vicinity of San Pedro de Guajalo.

Pics- Flooding in Quito ( Courtesy – Riesgos Ecuador)

Flooding has also been reported from Tena in the  Napo province, about 120 km southeast of Quito, where swollen river ‘Cusano’ flooded the adjoining low-lying areas with damages to bridges and other Infrastructures on 12th of April. Earlier in the last week of March, the Amazon region of Ecuador faced severe flooding in the river Bobonaza basin, which washed away many houses, schools, bridges, and other infrastructures. it is believed by the local environmentalists and countrymen that the impact of climate change has aggravated flooding in Ecuador because of the erratic behavior of rainfall in the country and other man-made encroachment in the natural set up.