Afternoon rains on January 31, 2022 flooded a ravine, causing a strong current of mud, rocks and debris that blanketed the streets of Quito’s two populous neighborhoods.
In addition to those who died, 380 people were affected and 38 houses were partially destroyed or damaged.
The avalanche carried me home, my daughter, my mother-in-law died there, she dragged me down a block, said Luis Iza, a survivor and family member of those who died, in an interview with Radio Pichincha.
Patricio Sanguña, another survivor, shared how he saw debris covering and destroying the first floor of his home, where he had a grocery store and where his truck was parked.
Two thousand officials, including police officers, firefighters, military, community public enterprise workers and city residents, came to clean up and restore the area where the event occurred.
The Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion reported that it has delivered $256 worth of bonds to 160 affected families, but that is insufficient for many after the flood left them nothing.
The Quito city government says it has provided five thousand food packages, 242 household items, and psychological and medical assistance to those affected and the victims’ families.
A year after the events, city authorities said the ravine where the water and other materials had accumulated that fateful day is currently clean and equipped with “filters” to mitigate the effects of another such incident.
A year after the tragedy, it rained heavily again today in Quito, as a reminder that what happened could happen again on the slopes of Pichincha Volcano if there is no long-term plan for treating the gorges.
jha/avr