Today, the floods have brought Esmeraldas back into the public spotlight. In Ecuador’s productive northern province, heavy rains last weekend caused serious river overflows and flooding in four cantons.
The central government has mobilized to provide health care, classes have been suspended, help desks are being offered to tourists, and local authorities are promoting solidarity crusades via social media. Members of the public forces lend their valuable contingent to the rescue. More than 11,000 people were affected.
In support of the emergency response, in this case to the adversity caused by the weather, but those who are frequent visitors to Esmeraldas know that the destroyed roads and their numerous problems are not only a matter of stormy rains on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The expansion of the road at the beginning of the 21st century reached from Santo Domingo to Quinindé. From this canton to Esmeraldas, despite the fact that it was a political promise, landslides and losses of highway sections are permanent, and the solutions are temporary.
During 12 hours, the amount of rain for the whole month fell on Esmeralda
The bridge connecting Santo Domingo to Quinindé was built in 1953 and is expected to last 40 years. After 70 years, the risk is greater with each flood of the powerful Blanco and Quinindé rivers.
Crime and drug trafficking are other evils in the province. Although official data record a decrease in violent deaths and the presence of military and police officers in actions is likely, extortion continues.
Pictures of the floods affecting the four cantons of Esmeraldas
Attention to the border province must be fixed. The 643,654 residents of Esmeraldas do not need patches, but permanent solutions.
Esmeraldas production contributes to Ecuador and what is happening today is alarming. Scientists have predicted the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, it is up to governments to be ready so that what we regret this June in the province of Verde does not become more serious in a few months and in several regions of the country. (OR)
Source: Eluniverso
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
