Disasters & Accidents

Ecuador’s capital, Quito, recorded 22 forest fires in 24 hours

Quito, Sep 7 (EFE).- The Ecuadorian capital, Quito, recorded 22 forest fires in the last 24 hours, one in Tababela, near the international airport “Mariscal Sucre,” whose operations are developing normally.

The mayor of Quito, Pabel Muñoz, activated the Metropolitan Emergency Operations Committee (COE) to coordinate actions to control the forest fires.

As of 06:00 a.m. local time (11:00 GMT) this Thursday, 21 fires had been attended and quelled, and one is in the process of control (Puembo-Tababela).

“I do not think we are talking about a casual thing but a determined parameter to want to affect the city,” said the mayor of Quito, a city that last week also saw a dozen fires.

The Municipality of Quito has deployed 150 members of the Quito Fire Department.

In addition, together with the municipal institutions, with the support of the Armed Forces and the National Police, 220 troops, five helicopters, 41 tankers, 14 vans, and an ambulance, among others, have been deployed.

Helicopters of the Fire Department, the National Police, and the Armed Forces have been used in the operations to control the fires.

According to reports from the municipality, the Metropolitan Control Agents Corps has carried out eight inspections of homes without finding any damage.

“The operations of the Quito Airport are being carried out normally,” the municipality said.

Currently, the Unified Command Post is installed in the Tababela sector, and the four technical working tables of the Metropolitan Emergency Operations Committee have been activated.

Authorities have recommended using masks in the area, mainly for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory problems. EFE

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