Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Primicias reports a magnitude 3.7 earthquake occurred at 06:58 on May 28 with an epicenter 54 kilometers from Yantzaza, Zamora Chinchipe. Authorities had not reported damage after the morning quake.
Primicias reports that Ecuador's Superintendence of Companies warned on May 27, 2026 that 354 mercantile companies offer higher education without legal authorization. The companies were notified to reform their corporate purpose within 30 days.
El Comercio reports that President Daniel Noboa announced Ecuador will begin acquiring medicines from India, with negotiations already underway and an expected arrival in about three weeks. The amount, medicine types and first hospitals have not yet been detailed.
Primicias reports that Quito's AMT resolved its payment-order system failures on May 27, 2026. The six vehicle review centers will keep extended hours through Saturday, May 30, to process delayed review and registration work.
El Universo reports that Quito has an INAMHI weather warning through 17:00 on Friday, May 29, with medium temperatures of 22-24 C and high levels of 25-27 C expected in parts of the metro district.
Expreso reports that at least 60% of Ecuadorian households live on $513 a month or less, citing El Quantificador data based on INEC figures. INEC's April ENEMDU report put average monthly labor income at $513 nationally.
El Universo reports that Ecuador recorded 273,554 active labor contracts from January through April 2026, with 171,735 concentrated in one broad macrosector covering agriculture, construction, commerce, finance, professional services and health-related work.
La Hora reports complaints from users who say they could not access surgery at the Ambato IESS Hospital, while the institution says it has two operating rooms active 24 hours a day and performed 438 procedures since April 2026.
Ecuavisa reports that Guayaquil's ATM will install a traffic light at kilometer 14.5 of Via a la Costa after protests over fatal crashes, while Expreso reports residents have criticized the lack of safe pedestrian crossings in the area.
La Hora reports that Ecuador recorded 262 massacre events in 2025 and 94 more in the first quarter of 2026, citing the Observatorio Ecuatoriano de Crimen Organizado.
El Telegrafo reports that scientists identified Microeledone galapagensis, a small blue deep-sea octopus first collected near Darwin Island during a 2015 expedition with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park Directorate.
President Daniel Noboa said the Quito Metro expansion will start during this period, while El Comercio reports the La Ofelia extension remains in definitive studies and still needs total-financing authorization from the national government.
