Ecuador and Uruguay Are Being Rocked by Deadly Floods

Natural disasters continue to take their toll on Ecuador after two rivers overflowed, claiming the lives of four people Wednesday, the country’s National Secretary of Risk Management said.

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The Damas and Toachi rivers, located near the city of Santo Domingo, caused around 25 landslides in the area after torrential rainfall struck the region Tuesday.

The storm hit the town of Alluriquin, around 74 miles to the west of Quito. Much of the area was engulfed by rapidly rising waters as roads were quickly flooded, hampering the rescue operation.

Around 80 homes were damaged by the mudslides while scores of cars and buses were unable to complete their journeys after becoming submerged in mud along the Aloag Highway. Over 300 people were affected by the rain in addition to the four who perished.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa visits areas affected by the floods near Santo Domingo, April, 26. 2016 | Andes

“The necessary personnel and equipment have been assigned to finish the clean up operation as quickly as possible,” said Edgar Rivadeneira, the area’s road administrator, Wednesday.

Ecuador has been left reeling after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake wrecked towns and cities across its coastline on April, 16. Since the large quake around 800 aftershocks have been detected across the country's coast.

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Meanwhile, Uruguay’s National Emergency System reported earlier this week that 11,943 people have been displaced after heavy rains and floods lashed the country over the past 11 days.

Of Uruguay’s 19 provinces 16 have recorded evacuations as heavy rainfall continues to pelt the small South American nation.

The Durazno province has been the worst affected with 5,163 people leaving their homes.

The government declared Monday an "agricultural emergency" in the Treinta and Tres and Rocha districts due to the number of cattle killed in the downpouring.

Uruguay’s northern region was hit by heavy rains in December, causing a rise in the Uruguay River and its tributaries, such as the Cuareim, which is close to the city of Artigas.

The floods have been attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon by climate experts, which has resulted in the flooding of several other South American countries such as Paraguay and Brazil.