A wildfire engulfed parts of Ecuador’s capital, Quito, on Tuesday, filling the city with smoke and threatening homes in the Guapulo neighborhood. The fire, fueled by a historic drought, has stretched the country’s resources, prompting President Daniel Noboa to deploy the armed forces to help fight the blaze.
The fire broke out around midday in Guapulo, a bohemian area, and quickly spread to nearby homes and forested regions. Desperate residents, some in tears, worked alongside firefighters to try to extinguish the flames.
“We couldn’t save anything. We just arrived and didn’t know what to do,” said local resident Rosana Cepeda.
Though no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported, Quito’s firefighting units are expected to battle the blaze through the night. Mayor Pabel Munoz noted that cooler nighttime temperatures should assist in controlling the fire.
Ecuador is currently facing its worst drought in over 60 years, severely impacting its hydroelectric power generation. Nationwide 12-hour power cuts were announced on Monday, though cuts scheduled for Tuesday in Quito were suspended by the city’s electric utility.
As the wildfire rages on, the country continues to grapple with both the fire and a growing energy crisis.
