Firefighters in Quito, Ecuador battle forest fires / Dozens of people have been evacuated as a precaution

Firefighters in Ecuador were battling several wildfires on Friday affecting wooded areas of Quito, the country’s capital. A fire that broke out on Mount Casitagua, in the north of the city, led to the precautionary evacuation of 48 people amid strong winds, drought and dry vegetation.

Flames and columns of smoke were visible in several areas of the capital. Emergency teams are operating both on the ground and from the air, but the mountainous terrain is hampering operations. Firefighters announced that nine forest fires broke out on Thursday, seven of which were extinguished.

Authorities estimate that the fires have already affected nearly 200 hectares of vegetation. So far, no injuries or damage to nearby homes have been reported, but the risk of the fires spreading to populated areas remains high.

Quito is on alert following another fire that broke out in the city center. Between June and September, authorities recorded nearly 200 forest fires, which destroyed approximately 1,200 hectares of forest. Four people are under investigation for causing fires, and one has been sentenced to six months in prison.