Winter Storm Roundup: Two Major Highways Closed, Rivers Rising, Third Death in Azuay This Season
Chip Moreno
The Situation Right Now
Wednesday's heavy rains have pushed Azuay province into one of its worst stretches of the rainy season. Here's what you need to know this morning:
- Two major highways closed from landslides
- Two of Cuenca's four rivers on pre-alert for high water
- A third fatality from winter storms in Azuay this season
- Multiple secondary roads damaged or restricted
If you're planning to drive anywhere outside Cuenca today, check conditions before you leave.
Road Closures (As of March 12 Morning)
Cuenca – Girón – Pasaje: CLOSED
A massive landslide at kilometer 50 sent rocks, earth, and trees across both lanes on Tuesday afternoon. The Ministry of Infrastructure has machinery on site creating a temporary passage, but as of this morning only light vehicles are being let through — and that's subject to change.
Heavy trucks are completely prohibited. If you're shipping goods to El Oro province, use the Zhud–Cochancay–Puerto Inca–Machala corridor instead.
A second complication: heavy rains have isolated the community of Rumipamba in Girón canton, with debris blocking their access road.
Cuenca – Molleturo – El Empalme: CLOSED
Blockage at kilometer 103. This is the popular route to the coast — Guayaquil, Naranjal, Machala. No passage.
If you need to reach the coast, your only reliable option right now is the northern route: Cuenca → Cañar → Zhud → Cochancay → El Triunfo. It's longer, but it's open.
Other Roads with Problems
| Route | Status | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Paute – Guarumales – Méndez | Partially open | Caution at km 44, 105, 107; problems in Sacre sector |
| Cumbe – La Jarata – Oña | Partially open | Issues in La Ramada sector |
| Cuenca – Cañar – Alausí | Partially open | Problems in El Rocío sector |
| Cuenca – Gualaceo – Limón | Open with caution | Landslides at km 6, 29, 39, 47, 54, 57 |
Routes That Are Open
- Cuenca – Lumpagpamba – Gualaceo ✓
- Cuenca – Sígsig – Matanga ✓
- Zhud – Cochancay – El Triunfo ✓ (the coast detour)
River Levels
ETAPA EP has placed two of Cuenca's four rivers on pre-alert status:
| River | Flow Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tomebamba | 48.6 m³/s | ⚠️ Pre-alert |
| Tarqui | 27.72 m³/s | ⚠️ Pre-alert |
| Machángara | 15.81 m³/s | Normal |
| Yanuncay | Not reported | Normal |
What pre-alert means: Stay away from the riverbanks. Don't walk along the river paths. Don't drive through flooded sections near the rivers. Water levels can rise several feet in a matter of hours.
Streams in Sayausí parish have already overflowed. Standing water has been reported on the Cuenca-Azogues highway near the IESS roundabout and along Avenida de las Américas and Avenida Ordóñez Lasso.
Third Death This Season
A woman identified as Patricia A. died Tuesday night when a landslide struck the Tres Banderas sector of Pijilí parish in Camilo Ponce Enríquez canton (the mining district in southwestern Azuay).
Firefighters couldn't reach the community that night due to road collapses. They recovered her body Wednesday morning.
She's the third person killed by winter weather in Azuay this rainy season.
Weather Forecast
More rain is coming:
- Today (March 12): 80% chance of rain in the morning, 90% tonight
- Thursday (March 13): Continued rain, heaviest in the afternoon
- Friday (March 14): Rain likely but may begin tapering off
The INAMHI warning we reported yesterday remains in effect through Thursday.
What You Should Do
If you need to travel:
- Check road conditions before leaving: follow MTOP (Ministry of Infrastructure) on social media for real-time updates
- Avoid the southern (Girón) and western (Molleturo) routes entirely
- Use the northern route via Zhud/Cochancay for coast travel
- Allow double the normal travel time on any route
If you're in Cuenca:
- Stay away from all four rivers and the riverwalk paths
- Avoid driving through standing water — you don't know how deep it is
- If you live near a quebrada (ravine) or on a hillside, be alert for signs of soil movement
- Keep flashlights and power banks charged — heavy rain can cause power outages
Emergency numbers:
- ECU 911 — emergency services
- ETAPA EP: (07) 413-7000 — water/utilities
- Fire Department: 102
Sources: El Mercurio (roads), El Mercurio (rivers), El Mercurio (fatality), Primicias (Girón road)
