Ecuador: A landslide in central Ecuador on Sunday resulted in the loss of at least eight lives. Rescue teams and local residents have been combing through the mud ever since. The heavy rains that lashed several provinces of Ecuador over the weekend caused severe damage, with the town of Baños bearing the brunt of the disaster.

Baños, located approximately 135 kilometres south of Quito, Ecuador's capital, suffered when a section of hillside gave way on Sunday, engulfing homes and vehicles in its path.

According to Ecuador's Risk Management office, the landslide claimed the lives of eight individuals, while 11 others remain unaccounted for and 22 more have been injured. Baños, renowned as a gateway for tourists exploring the Amazon jungle, now finds itself grappling with the tragedy.

Residents like Edgar Paredes expressed immense grief and disbelief at the loss of loved ones. "Pain, sadness, resignation for the family," Paredes lamented.

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Coffins prepared for the bodies of the victims | Photo: AP

Search and rescue efforts have been painstakingly slow as teams manually clear debris, supplemented by heavy machinery to expedite operations. Initially reported as six fatalities on Sunday, authorities confirmed two additional deaths on Monday.

The storms that swept across Ecuador triggered multiple landslides and floods in at least 13 provinces, causing significant damage to infrastructure such as bridges and highways. Moreover, two additional fatalities were reported in separate incidents due to the relentless rains, according to officials from Ecuador's Risk Management office.

AP