Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is ravaged by wildfires, with thick smoke engulfing the area. On Tuesday night (September 24th), firefighters worked tirelessly through the night, hoping to bring the flames under control. The prolonged dry spell has exacerbated the spread of the fires, posing challenges to the firefighting efforts.
President Daniel Noboa announced that the armed forces have been deployed to assist in extinguishing the fires. The blaze broke out around midday on Tuesday in the outskirts of the city in the Guapulo area, gradually spreading to nearby residential areas and forests.
The entire city of Quito is shrouded in thick smoke. The local government issued an air pollution alert, especially for the northern part of the city.
As of now, there have been no reports of any casualties or serious injuries.
The Quito Fire Department stated that all teams have been fully deployed, with firefighters working non-stop throughout the night to extinguish the fires.
Some residents are also pitching in to battle the fires. One resident told Reuters, “We couldn’t save anything. We just arrived, not knowing what to do… I don’t understand why this is happening.”
Ecuador is currently experiencing the most severe drought in over sixty years, plunging this hydroelectric-dependent nation into an energy crisis. The decrease in water levels in reservoirs has led to the shutdown of hydroelectric power plants.
The Minister of Energy announced on Monday that the dry season started two months earlier, and a nationwide 12-hour blackout has been implemented, expected to last until Sunday.
On Tuesday, three hydroelectric power plants in the country, including a major one, could not operate due to the low water levels.
Residents in the capital city of Quito are facing water rationing, with some areas experiencing water cuts for up to 12 hours a day.
(This article is based on reports from Reuters and the Associated Press)