Safety & Weather

All Azuay GADs have validated action plans for the El Niño response, with road work, risk-zone cleanups, infrastructure, and technical inspections among the planned measures.

Cuenca firefighters responded to eight vegetation fires on July 29, and one resident was hurt after trying to control a fire personally. Fire crews are urging people to call emergency services immediately and stay out of the flames.

Risk officials say Azuay, Canar, and Morona Santiago have territorial action plans as Ecuador moves 17 provinces into orange alert. For Cuenca, the watch list includes drainage work, low-lying areas, and temporary shelter planning.

Today’s Ecuador forecast keeps the Sierra mostly dry, but UV levels are the practical thing to watch. For Cuenca, that means the ordinary high-altitude sun routine matters: hat, sunscreen, shade, and a little respect for the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. window.

The municipal risk office reports 51 forest fires between June 1 and July 21. San Joaquín accounts for more than half of the affected area, making prevention especially urgent in the drier hillside zones.

Ecuador moved from yellow to orange alert for El Niño conditions in 17 provinces, 143 cantons and 491 parishes. In Azuay, the alert includes Cuenca, Girón, Nabón, Oña, Pucará, Santa Isabel and Camilo Ponce Enríquez.

Ecuador’s July 20 forecast calls for variable skies, isolated rain, and higher daytime temperatures. INAMHI also keeps Alert 52 active for daytime heat and radiation in several parts of the country.

A July 19 crash on the Girón-Pasaje road left one person dead and another injured. The incident was reported at kilometer 14, near a gas station in the Cumbe sector of Cuenca canton.

Part of a ceiling and other structures came down inside a commercial center in south Cuenca on Wednesday. The incident startled visitors, but no injuries were reported and the mall stayed open while staff cleaned up debris.