Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
INAMHI expects variable-intensity rain on June 27, especially in the Amazon region. A meteorological alert remains in effect through June 28 for moderate to strong rain in the Amazon and isolated events in the northern Coast.
Ecuador’s Constitutional Court issued a favorable opinion on the state of exception declared by President Daniel Noboa. The measure validates Executive Decree 423, signed June 16, for 60 days.
A strong storm in Santo Domingo on the night of June 25 caused flooded homes and damage to educational and sports infrastructure. Emergency calls came after 23:00, with responders mobilized through ECU 911.
After two major earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, Ecuador activated assistance channels for Ecuadorians in the affected area. The update matters for residents with family or travel ties in Venezuela.
Manabí remains under yellow alert as authorities prepare for possible El Niño impacts. Risk work is focused on river basins, rural flood zones, unstable slopes and historically affected cantons including Chone, Portoviejo, Rocafuerte, Sucre, Santa Ana, Montecristi and Jipijapa.
Ecuador is warning of high-energy waves from June 23 through June 25, 2026, with 12 beaches under red flag and 29 under yellow flag. The alert covers coastal and island areas and matters for beach travel, fishing and ocean activities.
Ecuador and the United States signed a border-security implementation letter on June 22 to coordinate against transnational crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and other border-zone threats.
Traffic on the Balbanera-Pallatanga-Cumandá road is restricted from June 22 through June 28, 2026 for rehabilitation works. The route is a key Sierra-to-Coast corridor used by private vehicles, interprovincial buses and heavy cargo.
A new report on digital recruitment describes how criminal groups use social media, narcoculture symbols and algorithmic engagement to pull minors toward illegal activity. The warning comes as adolescent arrests and violent deaths among minors remain a major national concern.
President Daniel Noboa issued Executive Decree 424 on June 18, opening a path for allied foreign military personnel to support Ecuador’s security operations. Officials say foreign troops are not expected immediately, while 13,000 Ecuadorian military personnel are being deployed to Guayas, Manabí, El Oro and Los Ríos.
Guayaquil airport officials said the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo terminal remained operational for domestic and international flights after a June 17 shooting outside the airport. Access was temporarily restricted while police worked the scene, but authorities said passengers inside the building were safe.
Tumbaco residents and Quito firefighters are watching the dry season closely after serious fire emergencies between 2023 and 2025. Forest fires have fallen in the urban Tumbaco sector, but waste burning remains a persistent risk, with 73 waste-burn events in 2025 and 19 already counted in 2026.
