(Quito) A landslide occurred on a highway in central Ecuador on Sunday, killing at least six people and leaving 30 missing, authorities said as heavy rains hit the country and caused the overflow rivers.
The flood of mud and debris rolled down the hillside and hit three cars, two houses and a bus in the Ecuadorian resort town of Baños, the town’s firefighters said.
Deputy fire chief Capt. Angel Barriga told The Associated Press that rescuers were treating nine injured people and had recovered six bodies from the disaster site, while another 30 people were believed to be stuck in the mud.
The town of Baños, known to tourists as a launching point for Amazon jungle adventures, has long attracted travelers exploring Ecuador’s volcanoes and craters. It is approximately 135 kilometers south of the capital, Quito, by air or 186 kilometers by road.
Heavy rains have flooded Ecuador and other parts of the region in recent days, with a landslide killing two children in El Salvador earlier this week.
Across Ecuador, storms brought a deluge of mud and floodwaters that crashed onto highways and bridges, cutting off the main route linking Ecuador’s highlands to the Amazon provinces.
Torrential rains have caused several Ecuadorian rivers to burst their banks. A torrent of water from the Pisque River flooded a popular water park north of the capital on Sunday. No casualties were immediately reported.
Rescuers in Ecuador said several landslides blocked or swept away streets, slowing rescue efforts as downpours continued.
Baños town Mayor Miguel Guevara urged residents to avoid dangerous roads and said authorities were rushing to clear the area along the northern coast for more victims.