Travel Safety Ecuador

November 07, 2009

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN ECUADOR FOR ELECTRICITY RATIONING

On November 5, 2009, we alerted to expect rolling blackouts due to electricity shortages across the country. Yesterday, President Correa announced a state of emergency (excepcion) for the next sixty-days in regards to electricity. This is country wide and outages are being reported for different hours of the day and night and are scheduled. Many nighttime sporting events have been suspended and hours of nightclubs ect. have been shortened to midnight. Massive traffic jams were reported in major cities. Expect crime to have an up tick. Also, this will place an increasing financial burden on those involved in business and especially true with the holiday season approaching. The problem stems from the low level of water in the Paute River that supplies the hydroelectric plant. The government is making attempts to purchase more electricity from Colombia and Peru. This emergency may last for several months. Contributing to the problem is the lack of rain and one of the driest seasons on record. Also see: EXPECT ROLLING BLACKOUTS THROUGHOUT ECUADOR - November 5, 2009

 (ECUADORRAVELADVISORY.COM)