Ecuador

Guayas, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Los Ríos

Regional

75 mm

Heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides have affected Ecuador, particularly the provinces Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Guayas, El Oro and Los Ríos, since rains started on 28 January 2022.

According to the Quito Municipality's local authorities, flooding struck in western parts of the city after 75 mm of rain fell in a short period during the afternoon of 31 January 2022. This is the highest rainfall intensity since 2003. The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) assigned the "Yellow" category to this disaster.

Rains triggered mud and rock flows that rapidly descended the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano that overlooks the capital city.

National

1,000 - 10,000

10 - 100

10 - 100

0.1 - 1 M USD

The floods caused damages and landslides, affecting 550 people (160 families), causing 28 deaths, 52 injured, and one person missing in Quito.

The sliding of mud and rocks cared a path of destruction through the streets of the Capital that destroyed homes, swept cars away and damaged infrastructure.

Due to the level of affectation in the Capital, a state of emergency was declared in a session of the Metropolitan Council of Quito, on 4 February 2022. The authorities have not declared an emergency in other areas, apart from the Metropolitan District of Quito, because the most severe damages were reported in the capital.

The direct and indirect costs amount to roughly 254,000 USD (i.e., 274,855 CHF, currency rate 1 USD = 0.9242 CHF as per 10/02/2022).

Consequences per affected province:

1) Pichincha Province
- Persistent rains caused flooding in Quito on 1 February 2022;
- 28 dead, 52 injured, and one person missing;
- 244 affected houses, 7 houses have been destroyed, 35 affected vehicles;
- damaged lifelines: power outage due to the fall of ten public lighting poles;
- damaged lifelines: breakage of drinking water pipes;
- damaged lifelines: suspended telephone and internet lines;
- security problems;
- 27 roads affected by debris that dragged the mudflow.

2) Cotopaxi Province
- Persistent rains since 30 January have caused flooding, landslides;
- affected homes and livelihoods of families (6 communities, 658 affected families) ;
- damage to the main access highway to the cantons: Pujilí, La Mana and Pangua;
- economic damage (loss of crops, livestock, farm animals).

3) Guayas Province
- Heavy rainfall recorded from 28 January 2022 has caused flooding;
- dikes rupture and undermining of retaining walls;
- damage to infrastructure (electrical and distribution of drinkable water);
- damage to livelihoods (short-cycle crops) of families;
- damages to main access roads, rendering some places isolated;
- 1,125 affected people (225 families) have been affected in 4 communities.

4) Provinces of El Oro and Los Rios
- heavy rains On 31 January 2022;
- significant losses of crops;
- damage to houses;
- 269 affected families.