Heavy rainfall in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador on Friday claimed one life and affected around 2000 families. This rainfall, attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon, began on Friday afternoon, prompting local authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Damage and State of Emergency
Fanny Uribe, the mayor of Santa Cruz Island, the most populated island in the archipelago, stated in a statement: "This is the first time something like this has happened in Santa Cruz. We never imagined this incident would occur... This was truly a natural phenomenon that exceeded our expectations." According to images released by emergency services ECU911 and local media, residents of Santa Cruz were moved to safe areas to protect their belongings.
According to initial estimates from the Santa Cruz municipality, the number of affected families is around 2000. Uribe also added: "They have lost everything, and the only clothes they have left are what they are wearing." Emergency services ECU911 also reported that one person has died and two others are missing.
Impact on the Tourism Industry
The Galapagos National Park has closed four tourist sites in Santa Cruz and two sites on San Cristobal Island due to adverse weather conditions. This archipelago, home to approximately 28,500 people across four islands, is recognized as one of the major global tourist destinations. Due to these heavy rains, it is expected that the Galapagos tourism industry will face serious challenges, and there is a pressing need for immediate actions for recovery and improvement in these areas.
Local authorities have also warned people to exercise caution due to the instability of the weather conditions and to avoid unnecessary travel. They have also announced that they are conducting a more thorough assessment of the damage and the urgent needs of the people to enable prompt necessary actions.
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