ALBAWABA — Ecuador declared a national emergency on Monday due to water shortages, drought, and forest fires that destroyed more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) in the country's south in November, according to the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR).
There are now five controlled fires and seventeen active fires around the nation, according to a statement from the SNGR. The 60-day period of the state of emergency will continue until the February presidential election campaign.
Italy and Peru have provided Ecuador with air support to help contain the fires. Four helicopters—three from the Ecuadorian Air Force, one from the Police, one from the Army, two from Peru, and one from a private enterprise run by the Italian Embassy—are currently in service in the province of Azuay and four in Loja.
On the ground, hundreds of volunteers and firefighters were dispatched to partake in the search and rescue efforts.
"Starting today, Monday, November 18, the SNGR will hold a daily meeting with the media to provide updates on the fires across the country," the statement read.
The government of Ecuador announced power outages lasting up to 14 hours as a result of the energy crisis brought on by the drought, which impacted hydroelectric generation.
The reservoirs of hydroelectric facilities that supply 70% of the country's needs have reached critical levels due to low water levels.
Authorities claim that the main cause of the flames, which have destroyed over 44,000 farm animals and devoured almost 40,000 hectares of crops, is human activity. The poor air quality caused by smoke has already forced some residents to wear face masks this weekend.
