About 2,000 firefighters, rescue workers and members of the military are fighting blazes around Quito.Firefighters in Ecuador are working to contain a number of wildfires outside the country’s capital, as several South American nations struggle with the effects of widespread drought and record-setting blazes.
Quito was blanketed in smoke and ash on Wednesday, as some 2,000 firefighters, rescue workers, and members of the military worked to evacuate residents and push back the flames. At least six injuries have been reported so far.
“The fire will not end in the next few hours. It will surely continue into the night,” Mayor Pabel Munoz told reporters, adding that lower nighttime temperatures could help firefighters in their efforts.
Munoz described the situation as “critical” and said two firefighters had been hurt battling the flames.
“Quito is under attack,” city security official Carolina Andrade said, adding that two adults and two children were also among the injured.
Record-setting blazes have broken out in countries across South America, including Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru, as the region has been hit by severe drought.
A firefighter working to contain a wildfire in Quito, Ecuador, September 25 [Karen Toro/Reuters]
“I wanted to save something, but we didn’t get anything,” Alexis Condolo, a 23-year-old mechanic whose home burned down, told the AFP news agency.
In a social media post, Quito’s fire department said it was dropping water on the blazes to try to help firefighters working to contain the flames.
The department also urged residents to avoid flying drones, burning trash, and taking any other actions that could start fires or complicate firefighting efforts.
Ecuador is facing its …
