Quito, Ecuador– A landslide occurred on a road in the center Ecuador At least five people died on Sunday, authorities said, as heavy rains lashed the country and caused rivers to overflow.
The flood of mud and debris came down the hillside and affected three cars, two houses and a bus in the Ecuadorian resort town of Baños, about three and a half hours southeast of Quito, the capital, the local fire department said. Deputy fire chief Capt. Angel Barriga said rescuers were treating nine injured people and had recovered five bodies from the disaster site.
The city of Baños, the departure point to the Amazon, has long been a magnet for adventure-seeking tourists exploring Ecuador’s volcanoes, craters and jungle.
Heavy rains have flooded Ecuador and other parts of the region for several days, and a landslide killed two children in El Salvador earlier this week.
Across Ecuador, storms caused a deluge of mud and floods that crashed into roads and bridges, cutting off the main highway connecting Ecuador’s highlands with its Amazon provinces.
Torrential rains caused several Ecuadorian rivers to overflow. A torrent of water from the Pisque River flooded a popular water park north of the capital on Sunday. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Emergency workers in Ecuador said several landslides had blocked or washed away streets, slowing rescue efforts as the downpour continued. Baños City Mayor Miguel Guevara urged residents to stay off dangerous roads and said authorities were rushing to clear the area along the northern coast for more victims.
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