Wildfire Rages in Ecuador’s Drought-Stricken Capital

Quito Faces Wildfire Emergency Amid Historic Drought

Quito, Ecuador – A severe wildfire engulfed Ecuador’s capital, Quito, with thick smoke threatening nearby homes on Tuesday as authorities worked swiftly to combat the fire during a challenging period characterized by a historic drought.

President Daniel Noboa mobilized the armed forces to assist in tackling the blaze, which ignited around noon in the artistic neighborhood of Guapulo and progressively spread to adjacent residential areas and forests.

Witnesses reported several emotional residents attempting to extinguish the flames on their own. "We couldn’t rescue anything. We just arrived. We didn’t know what to do… I don’t know why this is happening to us," expressed Rosana Cepeda, a resident of Guapulo.

Fortunately, no fatalities or major injuries have been reported thus far.

The firefighting division of Quito stated that all units were actively engaged, with efforts expected to continue throughout the night. Mayor Pabel Munoz mentioned that while the fire would likely persist, cooler nighttime temperatures could aid in controlling it.

Ecuador is grappling with its most severe drought in over six decades, plunging the nation—highly dependent on hydropower—into an energy crisis, as low water levels at reservoirs render hydroelectric facilities inoperative.

In light of this crisis, the energy minister announced nationwide power cuts lasting 12 hours starting Monday, citing an early onset of the dry season.

However, scheduled power cuts for Tuesday in the area served by the capital’s electricity utility, Electrica Quito, were suspended, as confirmed by the company through its social media channels.