The canton of Muisne, located in the southern part of Esmeraldas province in Ecuador, has been declared in a state of emergency due to significant flooding that occurred following heavy rainfall on March 8. According to a report from the cantonal Emergency Operations Committee (COE), around 2,500 residents in rural areas such as Balsalito, Zapote, Contreras, Aguas Claras, La Colorada, Boca del Sucio, and San Jacinto have been directly impacted. The flooding has resulted from the overflow of the Sucio and Canuto rivers, which has caused extensive damage to homes, furniture, household goods, small businesses, and agricultural crops.

Eyewitnesses from the affected communities have reported that water levels reached about one meter high in various sectors, significantly disrupting daily life and local economies. The emergency response teams, including personnel from the Environment, Risk Management, and Development Departments of the Muisne Municipality, are actively surveying the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage and to coordinate relief efforts for those impacted by the disaster.

The government and local authorities are now faced with the challenge of providing immediate support to the affected population and addressing the longer-term consequences of such climatic events. The situation highlights the vulnerability of rural areas in Ecuador to natural disasters, which raises concerns about future preparedness and infrastructure resilience against heavy rainfall and flooding during the rainy season.