Quito, Ecuador, is grappling with a severe fire crisis as of September 25, 2024, with at least seven injuries reported, including a baby and two firefighters. Authorities are working to control multiple active fire fronts, suspected to be intentionally set, and have offered rewards for information leading to the identification and capture of the perpetrators.
Efforts to extinguish the fires have been ongoing for over twelve hours, with firefighters using thermal imaging drones to identify hotspots. Two major fire fronts remain active in the Auqui hill and the Metropolitan Park, causing extensive smoke and air pollution across the city.
As a precaution, 107 residents have been evacuated, with some already returning home. The fires have destroyed three homes and damaged five others. Authorities have classified this incident as criminal and terrorist in nature, citing suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire's outbreak.
The Ecuadorian government has suspended public events in Quito to focus resources on the emergency and extended distance learning for schools due to air quality concerns. This crisis is exacerbated by the country's worst drought in 61 years, affecting over 23,400 hectares since August. The drought has hindered operations at the nation's hydroelectric plants, leading to electricity rationing.
Source: infobae.com, September 25, 2024