03:26At least eight people were killed, and dozens are missing after a landslide destroyed the E30, the main road in Tungurahua province, in Banos de Agua Santa on Saturday following heavy rains in Ecuador.
"There was only one family among our neighbours, four people who died: father, mother and two children, only one son and the grandfather were left," said Gustavo Altamirano, a local. "As for our family, three uncles, two cousins, and my grandmother died. And now, we have just been informed, just when we arrived, that the other man who lived there has also just died, he was in a hospital".
Footage taken on Wednesday shows a destroyed road and damaged area after the landslide and emergency workers searching the area and doing repairs. Some locals can be seen gathering in a church to bid farewell to someone who died in the landslide. Others affected by the landslide, who were forced to leave their homes and settle in shelters, can also be seen.
"We have received help from many institutions, but I ask them to continue helping us because this doesn't end today, we do not know how long the emergency can last, said William Freire, President of the parish of Rio Verde.
Ecuador's risk management office said in a press release that in addition to the eight confirmed deaths, 11 people were missing and 22 others had injuries.
"We are working with Bomberos Quito and Bomberos Banos [fire grigades], the previous days the other institutions of the Fire Brigade that correspond to the first zone have been working," said Portilla. "We have been working together with the National Police and the Armed Forces and we are continuing the work to clear the main road".
"The work now is to clear the road and remove all the debris from the site," he added.
According to local media reports, the landslide affected 13 provinces, affecting thousands of people. At least 30 people from Tungurahua province were reported missing and dozens were injured and taken to hospital.
Ecuador's Minister of Public Works, Roberto Luque, reported that the rains affected three hydroelectric plants.
Meteorologists stated that the heavy rains were caused by a low-pressure area covering countries of Central and South America.
At least eight dead, dozens missing after torrential rains trigger landslides in Ecuador
At least eight people were killed, and dozens are missing after a landslide destroyed the E30, the main road in Tungurahua province, in Banos de Agua Santa on Saturday following heavy rains in Ecuador.
"There was only one family among our neighbours, four people who died: father, mother and two children, only one son and the grandfather were left," said Gustavo Altamirano, a local. "As for our family, three uncles, two cousins, and my grandmother died. And now, we have just been informed, just when we arrived, that the other man who lived there has also just died, he was in a hospital".
Footage taken on Wednesday shows a destroyed road and damaged area after the landslide and emergency workers searching the area and doing repairs. Some locals can be seen gathering in a church to bid farewell to someone who died in the landslide. Others affected by the landslide, who were forced to leave their homes and settle in shelters, can also be seen.
"We have received help from many institutions, but I ask them to continue helping us because this doesn't end today, we do not know how long the emergency can last, said William Freire, President of the parish of Rio Verde.
Ecuador's risk management office said in a press release that in addition to the eight confirmed deaths, 11 people were missing and 22 others had injuries.
"We are working with Bomberos Quito and Bomberos Banos [fire grigades], the previous days the other institutions of the Fire Brigade that correspond to the first zone have been working," said Portilla. "We have been working together with the National Police and the Armed Forces and we are continuing the work to clear the main road".
"The work now is to clear the road and remove all the debris from the site," he added.
According to local media reports, the landslide affected 13 provinces, affecting thousands of people. At least 30 people from Tungurahua province were reported missing and dozens were injured and taken to hospital.
Ecuador's Minister of Public Works, Roberto Luque, reported that the rains affected three hydroelectric plants.
Meteorologists stated that the heavy rains were caused by a low-pressure area covering countries of Central and South America.
At least eight people were killed, and dozens are missing after a landslide destroyed the E30, the main road in Tungurahua province, in Banos de Agua Santa on Saturday following heavy rains in Ecuador.
"There was only one family among our neighbours, four people who died: father, mother and two children, only one son and the grandfather were left," said Gustavo Altamirano, a local. "As for our family, three uncles, two cousins, and my grandmother died. And now, we have just been informed, just when we arrived, that the other man who lived there has also just died, he was in a hospital".
Footage taken on Wednesday shows a destroyed road and damaged area after the landslide and emergency workers searching the area and doing repairs. Some locals can be seen gathering in a church to bid farewell to someone who died in the landslide. Others affected by the landslide, who were forced to leave their homes and settle in shelters, can also be seen.
"We have received help from many institutions, but I ask them to continue helping us because this doesn't end today, we do not know how long the emergency can last, said William Freire, President of the parish of Rio Verde.
Ecuador's risk management office said in a press release that in addition to the eight confirmed deaths, 11 people were missing and 22 others had injuries.
"We are working with Bomberos Quito and Bomberos Banos [fire grigades], the previous days the other institutions of the Fire Brigade that correspond to the first zone have been working," said Portilla. "We have been working together with the National Police and the Armed Forces and we are continuing the work to clear the main road".
"The work now is to clear the road and remove all the debris from the site," he added.
According to local media reports, the landslide affected 13 provinces, affecting thousands of people. At least 30 people from Tungurahua province were reported missing and dozens were injured and taken to hospital.
Ecuador's Minister of Public Works, Roberto Luque, reported that the rains affected three hydroelectric plants.
Meteorologists stated that the heavy rains were caused by a low-pressure area covering countries of Central and South America.