QUITO: The death toll from a massive landslide in Ecuador’s southern town of Alausi has risen to 27, according to the national prosecutors’ office. Rescue teams are still searching for several missing people after the tragic incident struck nearly a week ago.
The landslide occurred following torrential rain when a massive chunk of a mountainside broke loose and collapsed late last Sunday and buried parts of the town.
At least 163 homes were destroyed or damaged, leaving many people homeless.
Rescuers have been working tirelessly for the last six days, digging through the rubble and searching for survivors.
However, the death toll has steadily climbed since the tragedy, and it is not yet clear how many people are still missing.
Natural disasters in Ecuador
The same region was struck by an earthquake only over a week earlier, in which 15 persons were killed.
The government announced a two-month state of emergency in 13 of the country’s 24 provinces last week, following months of heavy rains.
The state of emergency allows economic resources to be redistributed to affected areas, providing much-needed aid and support to those who have lost their homes and loved ones.
The tragedy in Alausi has once again highlighted the dangers of natural disasters in Ecuador and the importance of disaster preparedness and response.
As the search for missing people continues, the nation mourns the loss of those who have already been confirmed dead.
