On Wednesday, February 18, a mud and rock avalanche occurred in the Cementerio area of Alausí, located in the Chimborazo province of Ecuador. The local emergency center, ECU 911 Riobamba, reported receiving alerts about damages to homes in the area via their emergency line. This triggered a rapid response from various emergency services, including the National Police, the Alausí Fire Department, and the National Risk Management Secretariat (SNGR), which deployed rescue teams and heavy machinery to assess the situation and potential damages.

The incidence was exacerbated by recent heavy rains that caused an accumulation of mud and sediments, leading to significant alterations in the landscape. Notably affected was the area near the Chitaquiz neighborhood in Alausí, which sits close to the impacted site. The SNGR highlighted the importance of monitoring and managing such emergencies to minimize risks to local residents and ensure a swift recovery from the incident.

In light of the continuous monitoring using surveillance cameras by ECU 911, the community is being kept informed about the situation as assessments proceed. The local authorities are constantly evaluating the safety conditions to offer support to affected families, illustrating the challenge posed by natural events in vulnerable areas of Ecuador, particularly during the rainy season.