QUITO — Heavy rainfall has left one person dead, two missing and around 80 others evacuated on Ecuador’s Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos archipelago, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency, local media reported.According to Ecuadorian broadcaster Ecuavisa, the death was reported in the Bellavista sector, while the two missing persons were reported in Divino Nino.Torrential rainfall triggered flooding across several areas of the island, including Bellavista and Santa Rosa in the central highlands, as well as Miramar, Aguacatal and La Cascada in coastal areas.A house collapsed in Miramar, while power lines were damaged as flooding disrupted infrastructure and transportation.Authorities evacuated approximately 80 residents to the Santa Cruz Sports Coliseum, which was converted into a temporary shelter.Commercial operations at Baltra Island’s airport were suspended, although the facility remained available for emergency flights and the transportation of humanitarian assistance.Road disruptions were also reported, particularly along the route connecting Puerto Ayora and Bellavista, prompting authorities to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel.The Government Council of Galapagos said it had deployed heavy machinery and trucks to support evacuation and relief operations in coordination with the Cantonal Emergency Operations Committee.Carolina Lozano, Ecuador’s secretary for risk management, said authorities had carried out rescue and evacuation operations and established two temporary shelters with a combined capacity of 500 people.In a statement posted on X, Lozano said the government was assessing the needs of affected families and preparing to deliver 1,000 humanitarian assistance kits to the island.The National Emergency Operations Committee also deployed 13 health professionals, who provided more than 55 medical consultations and transferred three patients to a hospital.Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz Health Center remained out of service because of flooding, according to Ecuavisa.Emergency teams continued rescue, evacuation and humanitarian assistance operations as authorities assessed the extent of the damage.QUITO — Heavy rainfall has left one person dead, two missing and around 80 others evacuated on Ecuador’s Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos archipelago, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency, local media reported.According to Ecuadorian broadcaster Ecuavisa, the death was reported in the Bellavista sector, while the two missing persons were reported in Divino Nino.Torrential rainfall triggered flooding across several areas of the island, including Bellavista and Santa Rosa in the central highlands, as well as Miramar, Aguacatal and La Cascada in coastal areas.A house collapsed in Miramar, while power lines were damaged as flooding disrupted infrastructure and transportation.Authorities evacuated approximately 80 residents to the Santa Cruz Sports Coliseum, which was converted into a temporary shelter.Commercial operations at Baltra Island’s airport were suspended, although the facility remained available for emergency flights and the transportation of humanitarian assistance.Road disruptions were also reported, particularly along the route connecting Puerto Ayora and Bellavista, prompting authorities to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel.The Government Council of Galapagos said it had deployed heavy machinery and trucks to support evacuation and relief operations in coordination with the Cantonal Emergency Operations Committee.Carolina Lozano, Ecuador’s secretary for risk management, said authorities had carried out rescue and evacuation operations and established two temporary shelters with a combined capacity of 500 people.In a statement posted on X, Lozano said the government was assessing the needs of affected families and preparing to deliver 1,000 humanitarian assistance kits to the island.The National Emergency Operations Committee also deployed 13 health professionals, who provided more than 55 medical consultations and transferred three patients to a hospital.Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz Health Center remained out of service because of flooding, according to Ecuavisa.Emergency teams continued rescue, evacuation and humanitarian assistance operations as authorities assessed the extent of the damage.
One dead, two missing as heavy rains trigger emergency in Ecuador's Galapagos Islands
