Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
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A young woman was abducted in Urdesa after boarding what appeared to be a legitimate ride-share vehicle. Three attackers forced her to unlock her banking apps via facial recognition, drained over $1,000, and demanded $500 more for her release.
A Sunday afternoon hailstorm dumped 40+ cm of ice on Ecuador's northernmost city. Neighborhoods across southern Tulcán flooded, two landslides closed the E-35 highway, and emergency crews are still clearing damage.
President Noboa declared a 15-day curfew from 11 PM to 5 AM covering Pichincha, Guayas, Manabí, and six other provinces plus four cantons. No salvoconducts. Business groups say the last curfew cost exporters $200 million.
The government handed over 230 new patrol vehicles in Machala this week, bringing the 2026 total to 420. The $21.3 million purchase was funded by private-sector contributions under Ecuador's security law.
Ecuador's National Assembly approved a report (79-56-6) confirming organized crime has infiltrated municipal traffic agencies, weaponizing vehicle registration systems for 'legalizing criminal logistics.' Recommended reform: centralize registration under the national ANT.
Ecuador's main Quito-to-coast corridor was closed Monday after a drainage structure collapsed at kilometer 83 of the Alóag-Santo Domingo highway. Expreso reports the closure at km 87; Teleamazonas places it at km 89. No official reopening time yet. Here's what you need to know if you're traveling this week.
Ecuador's EMBI country risk indicator closed at 409 points on April 17 — the lowest level since October 2014. The reading reflects higher oil prices, an IMF $400M disbursement, and a growth forecast upgraded from 1.8% to 2.5% for 2026. Here's what it means for cost of living and investment.
National Police executed Operation Apolo 19 in Quito's Quitumbe district on April 17, arresting 30 people across Guamaní, Turubamba, Chillogallo, La Ecuatoriana, and Las Cuadras. 53 officers participated. Seizures included 1 firearm, 20 bladed weapons, 14 detonators, 58 rounds of ammunition, 1.5 kg of cocaine, and 11 stolen vehicles.
New numbers from Colombia's DIAN show Colombian exports to Ecuador fell 27% in January–February 2026 as Ecuador's security-tariff regime ramped up. Between February and March, the fall steepened to 57%. Ecuador's tariff escalates again on May 1 — from 50% to 100%. Here's the picture and what it means for consumer prices.
Ecuador's April 12 fuel adjustment raised Extra and Ecopaís gasoline by 4.6%, diesel by 4.7%, and Súper by 26% — from $3.62 to $4.57 per gallon. Transport associations are planning a march in Quito and warning that costs will be passed through to importers, exporters, and ultimately consumers. Here's the breakdown.
Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health says 25% of all medical visits to the public health system in January 2026 were caused by traffic accidents. In 2025, Ecuador recorded 20,346 traffic accidents, 17,932 people injured, and 2,354 killed. It's not a small problem.
At 4:31 AM on Sunday, April 12, a bus and a light vehicle collided roughly one kilometer from the Olmedo toll plaza on the Via a la Costa in Santa Elena province. The crash killed four people and injured nine. Cause is under investigation.
