Heavy Rains Force 14 Cuenca and Girón Schools to Go Virtual This Week

What Happened

A week of intense rainfall between March 9-13 triggered landslides, mudslides, and significant road damage across parts of Cuenca and the nearby canton of Girón. The Ministry of Education responded by switching 14 schools to virtual learning as of March 16:

• 3 schools in Cuenca — in outlying parishes affected by road damage
• 11 schools in Girón — harder hit, with access roads blocked or unsafe

The virtual learning order will remain in effect until road conditions are assessed and repaired. No timeline for return to in-person classes has been given.

Why It Matters

For Expat Families

If your children attend one of the affected schools — or a school in the outlying parishes — check with the school administration directly. The virtual learning order applies to specific schools based on infrastructure assessments, not to all schools in the area.

For Everyone: Rainy Season Is Hitting Hard

This isn't an isolated incident. March 2026 has been brutal:

• March 9-13: Intense rainfall causes landslides in multiple rural parishes
• March 12: Yanuncay River floods at historic levels, damaging homes and bridges in San Joaquín
• March 13: ETAPA begins emergency pipe repair in Miraflores, affecting water in 12 neighborhoods
• Roads to Machala and Guayaquil were partially closed due to weather damage (now reopened with restrictions)

Cuenca's rainy season typically runs January through May, with March and April being the heaviest months. This year is tracking above average.

Practical Tips for Rainy Season

If you drive:

• Avoid mountain roads during and immediately after heavy rain — especially the Cuenca-Molleturo-Naranjal route to the coast and the Cajas highway
• Check road conditions before heading to Girón, Pasaje, or Machala
• Landslides can close roads with no warning — have a plan B

If you live near a river:

• The Yanuncay, Tomebamba, Machángara, and Tarqui rivers all run through residential areas
• Monitor water levels during prolonged rain — the Yanuncay flooding on March 12 was the worst in 20 years
• Know your evacuation route if you're in a flood-prone area

General:

• Keep a flashlight and portable charger handy — power outages happen during storms
• Carry an umbrella everywhere (you probably already do)
• Water disruptions during heavy rain are common — keep a reserve

The Bigger Picture

Ecuador's rainy season has been increasingly intense in recent years, driven by shifting weather patterns. Cuenca's urban core is relatively safe from flooding (the colonial center sits above the river corridors), but outlying parishes — El Valle, San Joaquín, Ricaurte, Baños — are more vulnerable.

If you're choosing where to live in Cuenca, factor in flood and landslide risk. Higher ground and urban locations are generally safer during the wet months. River-adjacent properties offer beautiful views most of the year, but March and April can be dicey.

Source: El Mercurio