Death Toll from Landslide in Ecuador Reaches 27

The death toll from the landslide in central Ecuador has risen to 27, with the bodies of four more individuals having been recovered from the rubble, according to the country's Attorney General.

“After the landslide in Alausí, the death toll has been confirmed at 27. The Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office has organized the retrieval of two additional bodies recently discovered in the rubble. After identification, they will be handed over to their relatives,” stated a message from the Attorney General's Office.

Last Sunday, a massive landslide occurred in the town of Alausí in Chimborazo province, destroying at least 57 homes and damaging 163 others. A recent report from the National Risk Management Secretary released on March 30 indicates that 72 people are considered missing, 37 others are injured, and 32 individuals have been pulled from the debris.

Rescue operations at the site of the landslide have been ongoing for six days, involving four rescue teams from surrounding regions and 15 operational response groups, as well as specialized equipment. Ongoing precipitation and the risk of new landslides are hindering search efforts. The Risk Management Secretary estimates that the volume of the collapsed soil mass is 2 million cubic meters, with some homes potentially buried at depths of over 40 meters.