Heavy rains in Guayaquil cause flooding, one death, and two people missing

Heavy rains caused widespread flooding across more than 40 sectors in Guayaquil on November 13, 2026, resulting in one death and leaving two people missing. The intense weather led to a situation where a father and son fell into a ditch in the Florida Norte sector. Emergency services were alerted to the disappearance via the ECU 911 Samborondón center. Meanwhile, a taxi driver was found dead in his vehicle in the Peca sector on the road to Daule, where water had reached the height of the tires.

Search and recovery operations

Emergency response teams have been working to locate the missing individuals. According to ECU 911, divers were deployed to search for the father and son in the ditch where they disappeared. The Guayaquil Fire Department and the National Police are participating in the search operations in the Florida Norte sector. Alex Anchundia, the General Manager of Segura EP, confirmed that search operations for the father and son were being conducted. As of 21:30, these search operations were still ongoing.

In a separate incident related to the weather, a taxi driver was found without vital signs by family members in the Peca sector. Officials noted that the vehicle was submerged in water up to the level of the tires. Alex Anchundia, the General Manager of Segura EP, stated that the death of the taxi driver is presumed to be due to natural causes, possibly a heart attack.

Recent weather patterns and previous incidents

The heavy rains affecting the region are associated with the El Niño phenomenon. This weather pattern has contributed to the flooding seen in the 40 affected sectors of Guayaquil. This incident follows a recent tragedy in the same region. On October 26, 2026, 18 days prior to the current incident, 18-year-old Ángel Gabriel Anchundia disappeared near a ditch in Flor de Bastión. The young man was found dead the following day.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the impact of the rains persists across the various sectors of the city. The presence of emergency units remains high in areas where flooding has caused significant disruption to local transit and safety.

Glossary

• Guayaquil — Guayaquil is a city in Ecuador. It is the location where Banco Guayaquil is based.
• Peca — La Peca is an inhabited point located in the Bagua's plain. It is situated at an altitude of up to 900 m.
• Daule — Daule is a location associated with a cavalry squadron. It is also mentioned in relation to a road.
• National Police — The National Police is a law enforcement body. Its members participate in search operations.