QUITO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains linked in part to the developing El Nino weather phenomenon have triggered fresh floods, landslides and overflowing rivers across Ecuador, the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR) said Monday.
SNGR head Carolina Lozano said downpours from Sunday night into Monday triggered at least 11 incidents in the coastal provinces of El Oro, Los Rios and Guayas, as well as the Andean province of Bolivar.
Authorities reported eight floods and four overflowing rivers in Los Rios, Guayas and El Oro, while emergency teams were deployed to coordinate relief efforts and deliver humanitarian aid.
In Guayaquil, the capital of Guayas province, about 50 areas were inundated, local media reported. Among the hardest hit was the rural parish of Tenguel, where an overflowing river flooded homes.
The Education Ministry suspended in-person classes in flood-hit or inaccessible areas of five provinces, including the Galapagos Islands.
Ecuador has been under a nationwide red alert since Aug. 29 as El Nino develops, with the phenomenon expected to reach its mature phase in November and December.
As of Sunday, rains since Aug. 29 had killed three people and affected 23,167 others across 22 provinces, damaging homes and other property, according to the SNGR.
