Government resolves to declare a state of exception in Zaruma

On the afternoon of this Thursday 16, the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, reported that it was decided to declare a state of exception in the Zaruma canton, in the El Oro province, after the sinkhole registered last night in the center of the town.

The president postponed a trip to Colombia to mobilize this afternoon to that town in Orense. There he held meetings with affected people and local authorities in order to establish emergency response measures.

During the visit, the president, who arrived accompanied by several ministers, expressed his solidarity with the residents and regretted the disrespect for the area’s exclusion zone by groups engaged in illegal mining activities.

In addition, he indicated that studies will be initiated to solve the problem that afflicts the population of Orense and he promised to allocate the necessary resources to find definitive solutions.

“With the purpose of making a geophysical diagnosis of the situation and then being able to find the necessary solutions to restore tranquility and security to the Zaruma canton,” explained the president, without giving the time that these tasks will take.

The signature of the state of exception will take place in the next few hours and the measure will last 90 days, Lasso said.

This is how the damage in the center of Zaruma due to a sinkhole is evidenced from the air

“On the first Thursday of next year I will be present here in Zaruma to follow up on the actions that are being taken to solve this emergency and prevent episodes like this from being repeated in the future,” he said, adding that a bonus will be offered. those affected by the disaster.

The sinkhole registered last night caused the fall of two heritage houses and left another house affected. More than 300 people have been evacuated for prevention.

With the exhibition of a map, the Vice Minister of Mines, Xavier Vera Grunauer, gave details of the recent collapse that affects three streets in the center of the town. “There is a 40-meter circular (diameter) buffer zone,” he said.

“It is important to mention that this sinkhole is the result of a dome at a depth of 50 meters, which has collapsed,” he added.

According to residents, the recent sinking occurred as a result of illegal mining activities on the ground in the town.

At In 2016, a similar situation was already reported near La Inmaculada school. Lasso said he will analyze the rescue of that campus.

In the midst of the deputy minister’s statements, several of those present warned about the fall of a structure that was already affected. (I)