Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
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Mazar, the critical reservoir feeding Ecuador's largest hydroelectric complex, has fallen to just 22 meters above its operational minimum. With the dry season outlook uncertain, the specter of the 2024 blackouts -- when Ecuadorians lived through 14-hour daily power cuts -- is back on the table.
President Noboa signed a decree suspending work on April 30, creating a 4-day weekend alongside May 1 (Labor Day). Banks, government offices, and many businesses will close April 30 through May 3. Expect heavy domestic travel, booked hotels, and coastal congestion.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Ecuador's coast near Santa Elena and Guayas early Saturday morning, April 4. The quake was felt across 6 provinces but caused no damage, injuries, or tsunami alert. It follows a 4.1 magnitude tremor near Loja on April 2.
Ecuador's Ministry of Health confirmed the country's first imported case of Mpox Clade Ib on April 2 -- the more contagious variant that has driven outbreaks in Central Africa. The case was identified through genomic sequencing by INSPI. Health authorities activated a national alert but stressed there is no need for alarm.
Ecuador's SRI issued a circular on March 26 reclassifying over 60 processed food products from 0% to 15% IVA. Lactose-free milk, all bread and pastries, instant noodles, and pre-cooked meats are now taxed. Fresh natural milk and raw unprocessed foods remain at 0%. The change directly impacts grocery costs for residents.
Police K-9 units intercepted nearly 22,000 dried shark fins weighing 1,905 kilograms at Guayaquil's Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport on April 2. The shipment -- 75 bundles disguised as fish bladders -- was bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of Ecuador's largest shark fin seizures in recent years.
Ecuador's tax authority SRI has implemented new withholding rates effective March 1 under resolution NAC-DGERCGC26-00000009. The 2.75% rate has been eliminated and replaced with a 5% bracket, and the default withholding rate has increased to 3%.
Ecuador's tax agency eliminated the 2.75% withholding rate and introduced new rates including a 5% tariff and 2% withholding on credit cards, insurance, and leasing. Plus: individual income tax declarations are due this month.
Ecuador's Interior Ministry sent 30 police agents to seize operational control of Guayaquil's municipal security entity Segura EP on Sunday night, citing 'shadow structures' provoking violence and alleging sensitive surveillance data was stored with a private company. The takeover comes amid three major fires in one week and deepens the confrontation between the Noboa administration and Guayaquil's opposition-aligned municipal government.
A team of 30 chefs prepared approximately 9,500 servings of mote pata in the Plaza de San Francisco, earning Cuenca an official Guinness World Record and cementing the city's status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The record was the centerpiece of Cuenca's 'Carnaval de los 4 Ríos' celebrations.
A major landslide at kilometer 36 of the Calacalí–La Independencia highway on Friday night has completely shut down one of the two main routes connecting Quito to the coast. Travelers face 7-hour detours via Alóag–Santo Domingo as Carnival weekend begins.
Everything expats need to know for the February 14-17 long weekend: tourism VAT drops from 15% to 8%, all bank branches close for four days, three highways are completely shut from landslides, domestic workers get double pay, and nearly 47,000 police officers are on the streets.
