Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Quito drivers can request compensation when a vehicle is damaged by potholes or municipal work, using an EPMMOP process that requires photos, a traffic report and repair documentation. The city’s pothole damage is estimated at $20 million to $30 million a year.
Ecuador added 10 substances to its controlled list after warnings about synthetic-drug risks and abuse potential. The change also comes with a plan to create 24 provincial committees to coordinate drug policy in the territories.
Weather officials say Ecuador's recent intense rains should begin easing nationally from Thursday, with the Coast seeing reduced intensity and the Sierra seeing more solar radiation. Guayaquil recorded 90-100 millimeters of rain in two days, roughly double the normal amount for the month.
Ecuador is pushing measles vaccination for children with delayed doses after regional cases increased. PAHO has recorded 20,332 confirmed cases in 16 countries and territories in the Americas, while Peru has more than 500 confirmed cases.
Risk officials are monitoring high-energy waves arriving from the southwest Pacific toward Ecuador's continental and island coasts. Waves are exceeding 2.5 to 3 meters, with impacts in Santa Elena and Galapagos.
Guayaquil saw flooding for the second consecutive day after intense rain affected northern, central and southern sectors. Critical points included Sauces, Samanes, Las Orquideas, Bastion and Via Perimetral.
Quito remains under a rain and storm alert from 17:00 on June 7 until 10:00 on June 10. Municipal monitoring is focused on areas at risk of flooding and landslides, including sectors in Calderon, Quitumbe, Tumbaco and Los Chillos.
A strengthening coastal El Nino episode off Peru could reach Ecuadorian waters within two weeks. Ocean-monitoring indicators show Nino 1+2 approaching +3 C, while some sea-surface readings reached 6.4 C above average.
Primicias reports INAMHI meteorological warning 41 forecasts high-intensity rain from the afternoon of June 2 through June 5. The Amazon, north Coast and northern Sierra are the main areas to watch.
Primicias reports INAMHI warned that at least 24 Ecuadorian cities face very high UV radiation on June 1. The strongest sun window is from 10:00 to 15:00, with Azuay and Loja among provinces listed in the very high category.
El Universo reports ECU911 and the Armed Forces have removed around 1,000 irregularly installed cameras across Ecuador, including 95 in Guayaquil and recent removals in Fertisa and the Trinitaria port zone.
El Universo reports INAMHI kept meteorological warning No. 39 active for Sunday, May 31, with variable rain in much of the Amazon and rain or drizzle in several Sierra cities including Quito, Cuenca and Loja.