18 People Killed on Cuenca Roads in Six Days — 15 on the Road to Guayaquil

The Numbers

In less than six days, 18 people died in traffic accidents inside the Cuenca canton, according to El Mercurio (source).

Verbatim: "18 personas fallecieron en accidentes de tránsito en el cantón Cuenca" — "entre el 14 y el 19 de abril de 2026" (between April 14 and 19, 2026).

Year-to-date the count is 19. In other words: one death this year happened before April 14. The other 18 came in a single week.

Where They Happened

Three incidents account for nearly all 18 deaths, and two of them are on the same road:

• April 14 — "un múltiple choque en kilómetro 92" (a multi-vehicle crash at kilometer 92) of the Cuenca–Molleturo–El Empalme highway. One death.
• April 16 — "en el kilómetro 57...vía Cuenca – Molleturo – El Empalme" (at kilometer 57 of the same highway). 14 deaths — this was the catastrophic bus accident that dominated national news for days.
• Sunday, April 19 — "en Voluntad de Dios, sector...parroquia Llacao" (in Llacao parish, on the northeastern edge of the canton). Three deaths.

The concentration on one road is stark: "15 de estas víctimas perdieron la vida en la vía Cuenca – Molleturo – El Empalme, principal conexión de Cuenca con Guayaquil." Fifteen of the 18 died on Cuenca's main connection to Guayaquil and the coast.

What This Means for You

If you drive from Cuenca to Guayaquil, the coast, or the airport, this is the route you're taking. What to think about:

• Drive it sober, rested, and in daylight when you can. The Molleturo route is one of the most demanding highways in Ecuador — steep grades, switchbacks, heavy truck traffic, and frequent weather changes. Night driving on this road is where the odds tilt fastest.
• Weather is still a factor. The same rainy season that caused the April 16 landslide at kilometer 92 is the same season that's still delivering surprises. Check road conditions before you leave. MTOP posts updates, and El Mercurio tracks closures daily.
• Km 57 is a known problem stretch. It's not the only one — but it's the one that killed 14 people this month. If you're passing through, slow down and assume the worst.
• Consider the southern route. Girón → Santa Isabel → Pasaje adds roughly two hours but is a viable alternative when Molleturo is closed or sketchy.
• If you fly out of Guayaquil frequently, the CUE → GYE bus lines and the Cuenca regional airport are worth comparing on cost and time. Not always cheaper, but zero driving on Molleturo.
• For long-haul Guayaquil trips, professional bus operators actually have better safety records than private drivers on this route — they drive it every day and know the quirks.

This isn't fearmongering. It's what the numbers say. Drive this road like the stakes are real — because they are.

Source: El Mercurio