(Quito) Quito, enveloped Tuesday evening by clouds of ash and smoke from five simultaneous fires, is facing a “critical” situation, according to the mayor of the Ecuadorian capital.
“We have at least five fires,” Pabel Muñoz said on X, describing the current situation as “critical.” The elected official estimated that the fight against the flames “will not end in the next few hours, it will certainly continue all night.”
PHOTO KAREN TORO, REUTERS
“We have at least five fires,” Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz said on X, describing the current situation as “critical.”
Some 14 houses were evacuated as a precaution, the municipality said in a statement.
The Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of in-person classes throughout the Quito metropolitan area on Wednesday due to “poor air quality.”
Large clouds of smoke were rising from the eastern outskirts of the capital, where two of the fires were concentrated, and many roads were cut off, AFP journalists noted.
In the residential neighborhood of Bellavista, northeast of Quito, residents formed human chains to, they said, “wet the road so the fire doesn’t catch on.” Elderly people were leaving their homes with the help of police and soldiers, AFP journalists reported.
President Daniel Noboa has mobilized the armed forces. “The helicopters [de lutte contre les incendies] will come to support as soon as the pilots can safely undertake their mission,” he wrote on X.
PHOTO KAREN TORO, REUTERS
Large clouds of smoke were rising from the eastern outskirts of the capital, where two of the fires were concentrated.
Electricity rationing suspended
“At this time, all of our teams are deployed on three fires: Guapulo, Itchimbia (two neighborhoods in the center-east) and La Forestal (south),” the firefighters had earlier indicated on X. “Due to the forest fire in the Guapulo sector, there is smoke and combustion residue (ash) in some sectors of the metropolitan district of Quito,” they added.
Ash falls were reported north of the city and in the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Three weeks ago, four forest fires had already covered several areas of the capital and its surroundings with smoke and ash, without affecting airport operations.
Ecuador is facing its worst drought in six decades, which is fueling wildfires and leading to water and electricity rationing, mainly hydroelectric.
The rotating electricity rationing, scheduled for this Tuesday, has been suspended. “Unless there is any change […] Quito should have electricity all night tonight,” the mayor said.
Over the past year, 3,302 forest fires have been recorded, burning 37,808 hectares of vegetation. Fourteen people have been injured, 797 have been affected and 44,742 livestock have died, according to the report published Tuesday by the Risk Secretariat.
Of the country’s 24 provinces, 20 are on red alert due to a water crisis that is putting 40,000 hectares of crops at risk.
PHOTO KAREN TORO, REUTERS
Ecuador is facing its worst drought in six decades, which is fueling wildfires and leading to rationing of water and electricity, mainly hydroelectric.