A minimum of 16 individuals have been killed and 16 others injured after a large landslide buried dozens of properties in an Andean group in central Ecuador, the nation’s emergency response company reported.
Ecuador’s Danger Administration Secretariat mentioned on Monday that seven individuals remained lacking hours after the rain-fuelled landslide hit Alausi, a small city about 317km (197 miles) south of the capital, Quito, on Sunday evening.
The company estimated that 500 individuals and 163 properties have been affected by the catastrophe, which additionally destroyed a portion of the Pan-American Freeway.
The governor of Chimborazo, Ivan Vinueza, mentioned that among the injured have been taken to space hospitals. He added that residents and rescuers have been ordered to evacuate the world because of the imminent danger of recent landslides.
Residents advised native media they heard tremors on the mountain earlier than the landslide, which is estimated to be about 150m (490 toes) large.
Firefighters from half a dozen cities have been dispatched to the world to assist.
