DEADLY FLOOD
Ecuador landslide – At least 11 dead & 40 people swept away in La Comuna, Quito as shocking vid reveals flooding chaos
A LANDSLIDE in Ecuador has killed 11 people and swept 40 away in La Comuna, Quito, following days of heavy rainfall.
At least 32 people were injured on Monday when the worst flooding to hit Ecuador in nearly two decades triggered a lethal landslide in the nation's capital.
4
4
Harrowing images showed people being swept away in mudslides as torrents of water carrying stones and mud rushed through the city centre, flooding houses and streets.
One clip showed a deluge of fast-moving mud engulfing everything in front of it, including cars and container bins while onlookers were heard screaming as they tried to help others out of the water.
The freak downpour also caused a water collection point to overflow, sending a deadly stream down a nearby hillside onto a sports ground where several people were practicing, local authorities said in a virtual press conference.
Quito mayor Santiago Guarderas initially said "there are 11 dead, 15 injured and we have eight collapsed structures".
But local authorities later updated that to 32 injured and said affected families were being now placed in makeshift shelters.
Most read in World News
One local told Ecuador's El Universo newspaper he saw how "the current took a man and a child. It was horrible".
Another, Emerson Rubio, tweeted: "Right now in La Gasca, in Quito there is a mudslide caused by the heavy rain. The water is sweeping away several cars and there are people trapped."
The horror flooding began on the slopes of Pinchincha volcano, which overlooks the nation's capital and witnessed 75 litres of water dumped per square metre.
Quito's mayor said this was "a record figure, which we have not had since 2003".
Meanwhile, large chunks of the capital are without power after flooding damaged electrical poles.
It comes as heavy rains pelted 22 of Ecuador's 24 provinces since October, killing 18 people and injuring 24, according to the National Risk Management Service.
Scientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain around the world because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.
4
4
More to follow...
For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online.
is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sport news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at .
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at
Topics