03:42Wildfires continue to threaten residential areas on the suburbs of Quito while affecting air quality on Thursday, as authorities advised people to stay indoors.
Police in Ecuador detained another suspect in connection with the wildfires that continue to ravage the country. The alleged arsonist, a Colombian national, was the fourth person brought to justice, according to reports.
The blaze began on Tuesday in a forested area near the Ecuadorian capital and spread, forcing the evacuation of dozens of families.
Meanwhile, President Daniel Noboa cut short his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York and returned to the country to take personal control of the situation. He has already announced that the armed forces are involved in the operation to extinguish the fires.
Yasmin Trujillo, an Ecuadorian citizen, believes that ‘these fires are caused by negligence.’
‘People who act carelessly can cause such radical damage in various parts of the city, not only in Quito but also nationally,’ she said.
Another local resident agrees, claiming that ‘there seems to be a lack of environmental consciousness, people even throw glass bottles, and with the dry vegetation, any spark can lead to a fire.’
Forest fires in the Quito area have forced the city council to declare a local state of emergency. Several provinces have been severely affected so far, including Bolívar, Guayas, Azuay, Carchi, Cotopaxi and Loja. To extinguish the fire, rescuers are actively using drones, which are being launched over the affected areas to identify hot spots. Hundreds of families have been evacuated as a result of the disaster and more than 44,000 farm animals have died, according to reports.
In total, the fires have affected more than 2,000 hectares of land in Ecuador this year. According to the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, the country is experiencing its worst dry season in 61 years.
Wildfires threaten Quito suburbs as president cuts short trip to New York
Wildfires continue to threaten residential areas on the suburbs of Quito while affecting air quality on Thursday, as authorities advised people to stay indoors.
Police in Ecuador detained another suspect in connection with the wildfires that continue to ravage the country. The alleged arsonist, a Colombian national, was the fourth person brought to justice, according to reports.
The blaze began on Tuesday in a forested area near the Ecuadorian capital and spread, forcing the evacuation of dozens of families.
Meanwhile, President Daniel Noboa cut short his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York and returned to the country to take personal control of the situation. He has already announced that the armed forces are involved in the operation to extinguish the fires.
Yasmin Trujillo, an Ecuadorian citizen, believes that ‘these fires are caused by negligence.’
‘People who act carelessly can cause such radical damage in various parts of the city, not only in Quito but also nationally,’ she said.
Another local resident agrees, claiming that ‘there seems to be a lack of environmental consciousness, people even throw glass bottles, and with the dry vegetation, any spark can lead to a fire.’
Forest fires in the Quito area have forced the city council to declare a local state of emergency. Several provinces have been severely affected so far, including Bolívar, Guayas, Azuay, Carchi, Cotopaxi and Loja. To extinguish the fire, rescuers are actively using drones, which are being launched over the affected areas to identify hot spots. Hundreds of families have been evacuated as a result of the disaster and more than 44,000 farm animals have died, according to reports.
In total, the fires have affected more than 2,000 hectares of land in Ecuador this year. According to the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, the country is experiencing its worst dry season in 61 years.
Wildfires continue to threaten residential areas on the suburbs of Quito while affecting air quality on Thursday, as authorities advised people to stay indoors.
Police in Ecuador detained another suspect in connection with the wildfires that continue to ravage the country. The alleged arsonist, a Colombian national, was the fourth person brought to justice, according to reports.
The blaze began on Tuesday in a forested area near the Ecuadorian capital and spread, forcing the evacuation of dozens of families.
Meanwhile, President Daniel Noboa cut short his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York and returned to the country to take personal control of the situation. He has already announced that the armed forces are involved in the operation to extinguish the fires.
Yasmin Trujillo, an Ecuadorian citizen, believes that ‘these fires are caused by negligence.’
‘People who act carelessly can cause such radical damage in various parts of the city, not only in Quito but also nationally,’ she said.
Another local resident agrees, claiming that ‘there seems to be a lack of environmental consciousness, people even throw glass bottles, and with the dry vegetation, any spark can lead to a fire.’
Forest fires in the Quito area have forced the city council to declare a local state of emergency. Several provinces have been severely affected so far, including Bolívar, Guayas, Azuay, Carchi, Cotopaxi and Loja. To extinguish the fire, rescuers are actively using drones, which are being launched over the affected areas to identify hot spots. Hundreds of families have been evacuated as a result of the disaster and more than 44,000 farm animals have died, according to reports.
In total, the fires have affected more than 2,000 hectares of land in Ecuador this year. According to the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, the country is experiencing its worst dry season in 61 years.