Six people died and some 350,000 others are affected in Ecuador by floods linked to seasonal rains as well as ash falls from the Sangay volcano, the risk management department announced on Saturday (March 13th).
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"
We support the population affected by the ash fall of Sangay and the floods all over the country
", tweeted Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, announcing a restructuring of "
agricultural loans
" and sending "
teams to help our peasants
".
The floods have destroyed some 16,320 hectares in several coastal and Andean regions since the start of the rainy season on February 1, affecting nearly 18,000 people, according to the site of the risk management service (SNGRE).
In addition, volcanic ash from Sangay, located 200 km south of Quito destroyed some 43,000 hectares of crops and affected about 330,000 people, adds the site.
No volcanic ash fall was recorded on Saturday, he said.
Sangay, with its snow-capped cone culminating at 5,230 meters, is one of the many active volcanoes in Ecuador, such as Tungurahua and Cotopaxi, both south of Quito.
It is considered to be in constant eruptive activity since 1628, according to the Geophysical Institute.
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Guayaquil International Airport (South West) resumed its activities on Sunday March 7 after having had to close the previous week due to ash emissions from the Sangay.
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