Cuenca Has Recorded 24 Traffic Deaths So Far This Year
Cuenca Expat Staff
Cuenca's traffic numbers are already heavy this year.
El Mercurio reports that 24 people died in traffic crashes in Cuenca canton between January 1 and May 27, 2026.
The newspaper says it has created a public digital map of the crashes it has registered.
Where The Risk Is Concentrated
The Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme road is the standout danger point in the report. El Mercurio says 17 people have died on that road so far this year.
The worst crash happened at kilometer 57, where a passenger bus overturned and burned, leaving 15 people dead.
El Mercurio also reports that a pickup truck rollover in Llacao killed three people.
The Latest Road Notes
According to El Mercurio, an ECU 911 road report from May 27, 2026 said kilometer 73 was partially open.
The same report recommended caution at kilometers 49, 53, 57, 85 and 91.
For people who drive to the coast, that is the practical part: the Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme road accounts for most of the traffic deaths in Cuenca canton cited in this report.
Emergency Contact
ECU 911 says Ecuador's emergency institutions coordinate through 9-1-1. Calls can be made from fixed or mobile phones at no cost, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Sources: El Mercurio, ECU 911
