Ecuador Awash
Intense rain and floods
are holding Ecuador
hostage Friday, in a
winter season in which
12 people have died and
thousands left homeless,
forcing the government
to declare a national
emergency and request
international aid.
The Civil Defense report
this as the worst
downpour of the decade,
submerging several
villages and forcing
evacuation of 60,000
residents in Guayas and
Canar provinces.
A military source said
2,000 soldiers and 2,000
police were mobilized to
aid the victims in the
most affected areas,
namely the provinces of
Guayas, Canar, Manabi,
Azuay and Los Rios.
Included among state
resources are the Army's
80 vehicles, including
trucks, all terrain
vehicles and 34 rubber
boats to ferry people,
while the Air Force is
operating helicopters.
The Agriculture Ministry
is studying the
situation to gauge the
million dollar losses,
while the Transportation
Ministry announced a
$2.8 billion investment
in road repair.
President Rafael Correa
and Coastal Minister
Carolina Portaluppi will
fly over affected areas. |
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