Flooding in Esmeraldas province, Ecuador

Heavy rainfall in the Esmeraldas province of Ecuador has triggered significant flooding across multiple cantons. On September 26, the Toquilla River overflowed in the Quinindé canton, flooding approximately 25 homes in the San Antonio neighborhood. Residents reported water levels reaching ankle to knee height, damaging furniture and commercial goods, while inadequate drainage systems failed to manage the volume.

By early October, the flooding expanded to the Muisne canton as the Salima River and local estuaries overflowed. Affected communities include La Florida, Boca de Tigua, Piedra Fina, and the San José de Chamanga parish. The weather has severely disrupted regional mobility, causing road failures and asphalt loss on routes such as Quinindé-El Mirador-Esmeraldas and San Mateo-Viche.

Emergency services, including the National Risk Management Secretariat and the National Police, have been deployed for technical inspections and family assistance. The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inamhi) has warned that intense precipitation could continue through at least October 5, maintaining the risk of further overflows.