Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
The tourist yacht Evolution ran aground near Punta Estrada on Santa Cruz Island on June 26. Puerto Ayora’s port captaincy activated response protocols and requested support from nearby vessels while authorities evaluated the situation.
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.
Police and prosecutors detained Jipijapa Mayor Angela Plua and 12 others in Operation Digitador, an investigation into alleged irregular vehicle paperwork in Manabi. Authorities said the case involved 18 raids and suspected losses above $5 million.
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.
Quito is applying its Pico y Placa vehicle restriction on Thursday, June 25. Drivers in the capital should check plate endings and time windows before crossing restricted zones.
Colombia is considering restarting electricity exports to Ecuador, but El Niño could make those sales uncertain from November 2026 into early 2027. The issue matters because the Colombia interconnection can supply about 450 MW, nearly 10% of Ecuador’s average demand.
Ecuador’s tax authority says automatic IVA refund or exemption is available at authorized stores for adults over 65 and people with disabilities. The list includes major supermarket and pharmacy chains, but shoppers need a confirmation code before paying.
BIESS has modernized InmoBiess, a web platform where affiliates and retirees can review qualified housing projects and estimate mortgage payments. The tool includes projects by city, price and number of bedrooms, but it does not replace the formal credit evaluation.
LATAM has opened ticket sales for a new direct Quito-Santiago route beginning in December 2026. The airline says it will operate four weekly flights, add about 35,000 seats per year and reduce travel time by roughly 1.5 to 3 hours compared with connecting options.
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.
CNT says 80% of institutional clients have recovered services after a data-center failure affected state platforms and mobile users. The company also said 75% of cloud operations had been fully restored by the afternoon of June 22.
