Ecuador has declared a state of emergency due to severe drought and record wildfires, allowing the government to mobilise funds and resources to bring the blazes under control. The country’s emergency management agency, the Ecuadorian Secretariat for Risk Management, stated that the state of emergency was declared to address the forest fires, water deficit, and drought. Authorities are currently battling 17 active wildfires primarily affecting the Azuay and Loja provinces in southern Ecuador, with around 10,200 hectares of land affected. A severe wildfire in September threatened the capital, Quito, prompting evacuations and firefighting efforts involving over 2,000 personnel.
Ecuador is facing its worst drought in 60 years, impacting water levels in hydroelectric dams that generate over 70 percent of the country’s power. Daily power cuts of up to 14 hours have been imposed as the government urges citizens to conserve energy. The Global Wildfire Information System predicts an increase in wildfire danger from high to extreme in the affected provinces.
Record-setting wildfires have also occurred in other South American countries, attributed to severe drought exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon and climate change. NASA has observed plumes of smoke visible from space over the region, while the Amazon basin rivers have experienced record low levels. The state of emergency in Ecuador reflects the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the unprecedented wildfires and drought affecting the region.
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