The flood began on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, which overlooks the nation\u2019s capital
\n QUITO
\nAt least 11 people were killed and 32 injured on Monday after the heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in nearly two decades triggered a massive landslide in capital Quito, authorities said.
\nTorrents of water carrying stones and mud swept down an avenue in the Ecuadorian city, washing away cars and flooding houses and streets, according to images released by the emergency services.
\nThe torrential downpour caused a water collection structure to overflow, sending a deadly stream down a nearby hillside onto a sports ground where several people were practicing, authorities said at a virtual press conference.
\nQuito mayor Santiago Guarderas initially said \u201cthere are eleven dead, 15 injured and we have eight collapsed structures.\u201d
\nBut municipality authorities later revised the figure to 32 injured and added affected families had been placed in local shelters.
\nThe flood began on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, which overlooks the nation\u2019s capital.
\nGuarderas said Monday\u2019s rainfall brought down 75 liters per square meter following 3.5 liters on Saturday, with the forecast predicting two liters per square meter.
\nThis is \u201ca record figure, which we have not had since 2003,\u201d he added.
\nThe affected area also lost power after electrical poles were brought down by the deluge.
\nHeavy rains have hit 22 of Ecuador\u2019s 24 provinces since October, leaving at least 18 dead and 24 injured, according to the National Risk Management Service.
\nScientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain around the world because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The flood began on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, which overlooks the nation\u2019s capital QUITO At least 11 people were killed and 32 injured on Monday after the heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in nearly two decades triggered a massive landslide in capital Quito, authorities said. Torrents of water carrying stones and mud swept […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":242069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[3611,152,3610],"class_list":{"0":"post-242036","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-ecuador-capital","9":"tag-flood","10":"tag-kills"},"yoast_head":"\n