Rivers overflow in Esmeraldas, flooding communities in Eloy Alfaro

Heavy rainfall in the Esmeraldas province of Ecuador has caused three rivers—the Pambil, Onzole, and Cayapas—to overflow, leading to significant flooding in the Eloy Alfaro canton.

In the Capulí community, rising water levels forced residents to use canoes and boats to navigate streets turned into channels and to protect their belongings. Other affected areas include Santo Domingo de Ónzole, Telembí, and Santa María 2. The flooding has caused power outages and a landslide in the Alto Cayapa area.

The National Risk Management Secretariat (SNGR) and the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inamhi) have monitored the situation, noting that intense rains and thunderstorms preceded the overflows. While residents have shared footage of water reaching the doors of homes, an official balance regarding the total number of affected families and the full extent of material damage has not yet been released by authorities.