Government to Declare Emergency on Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje Road Section

The national government is preparing an emergency declaration for a closed section of the Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje road.

The affected section runs between kilometer 76 and kilometer 105, where landslides have blocked vehicle circulation.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport announced the measure after a technical inspection led by Vice Minister of Infrastructure Paolo Carpio.

Why The Emergency Declaration Matters

The emergency declaration is intended to accelerate work to restore vehicle circulation and improve safety on the corridor.

The measure allows more economic, technical, operational and administrative resources to be directed toward the road emergency.

The damage followed rains recorded on June 8 and June 9. Those rains were described as above historical averages for the area, causing large landslides in five critical points.

Authorities estimate about 200,000 cubic meters of material accumulated on the roadway.

More than 15 road machines are participating in response work, with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Celec EP, the decentralized governments of Pucara and Santa Isabel, and the Azuay Prefecture involved.

What This Means For Expats

This road matters for people moving between Azuay and El Oro, especially travelers connecting Cuenca with southern coastal routes and the Machala/Pasaje side of the country.

Until the corridor reopens, assume detours, delays and changing conditions. If you are planning a drive through southern Ecuador, check the road status before leaving and avoid treating older route advice as reliable.