Ecuador's Mass Wasting
Mass wasting is the movement of land typically down the slope by the force of gravity. While landslides do not tend to need triggers they are most common after heavy rain, earthquakes, and fires. Below is a map of how common landslides are in certain areas in Equador. (Image link 260px)
Last year in 2022 Ecuador had one of the worst heavy rainfall in the last 20 years. This caused a mass amount of flooding and very soft ground. All of this rainfall caused lots of landslides but one, in particular, happened on the volcano Pichincha which rests above Ecuador's capital Quito. This landslide killed 24 people and left 52 people injured. (Image link f4efcf477a340e649598f5b561ac9d65.jpg)
Mass wasting is the most common natural disaster in Ecuador which include traditional landslides, volcanic debris, and rock falls. These disasters don't discriminate when it comes to Ecuador so it's very important to always stay informed and stay safe especially when you live in a place with heavy rainfall and earthquakes are frequent.
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Yes, all the South American western coastal countries that are in the equatorial part of the globe has a high risk for mass wasting due to the weather and the topography. Good read!
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