36 Killed by Landslides in EcuadorAt least 36 people were killed Tuesday by landslides in the eastern Ecuadorian province of Napo, bringing to 41 the death toll from several days of heavy downpour in the country, the civil defense authorities said.Stranded people were buried alive while waiting for rescue in their makeshift tents along the road to capital Quito after several buses, trucks and cars were blocked by an earlier landslide caused by torrential rains. Rescue workers are racing against time to evacuate people from the affected areas, said the authorities. However, the rescue efforts have been hampered by poor transport and communications in the Andes province. Ecuador's oil pipelines also sustained damage in the landslides and transport of crude oil is expected to be cut off for three to four days, causing an estimated direct economic loss of 200,000 to 300,000 U.S. dollars. Landslides and floods caused by heavy rains have inflicted considerable damage to life and property in eight among Ecuador's 22 provinces since last Friday, said the authorities. |
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