Floodwaters entered the Hospital del Día Norte Tarqui in Guayaquil on the afternoon of Monday, October 26, forcing administrators to reschedule appointments and surgeries.
The Ecuadorian Social Security Institute, the state agency known as the IESS that operates the center, reported that street runoff surged directly into the building. The facility is situated at kilometer 6.5 of Juan Tanca Marengo Avenue, a major arterial route in the north of the city.
Medical appointments scheduled for the following 24 hours have been postponed, while planned surgical procedures have been moved back by 48 hours, according to an official statement released by the IESS on social media.
Emergency measures at Tarqui clinic
The social security agency stated that its medical units activated contingency plans to guarantee the continuity of healthcare services. Officials said these emergency measures aim to protect the safety of patients and healthcare staff while safeguarding vital medical equipment from water damage.
Intense rainfall also caused water accumulation on the access roads leading to the health center. The standing water created travel difficulties for patients attempting to reach the facility.
In response to the disruption, the IESS urged municipal authorities to perform maintenance on urban drainage and stormwater evacuation systems. The agency said local officials must implement flood mitigation measures to reduce impacts on healthcare infrastructure and ensure the public can safely reach medical establishments.
Flooding across Guayaquil
The storm caused flooding in at least 19 sectors across Guayaquil on Monday afternoon. Videos shared on social media showed pedestrians wading through flooded streets, with water levels reaching up to their waists and chests in several areas.
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest commercial port and economic hub, located along the Guayas River. The coastal port city regularly faces severe street inundation and drainage bottlenecks when heavy tropical downpours coincide with high river tides.
The IESS manages public health facilities and pension programs for insured workers across Ecuador. Its day clinics, such as the Tarqui facility, provide outpatient treatments, consultations, and routine surgical operations to relieve strain on the region's larger general hospitals.
