Since January 2025, Ecuador has been grappling with extreme rainfall, affecting 23 of its 24 provinces. The torrential rains have triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and extensive damage to infrastructure, leaving nearly 20,000 people impacted. As a result, the government has declared a state of emergency in eight coastal provinces.

Satellite image: Flooding in Ecuador (24 Feb. - 2 March 2025)
Ecuador. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Emergency Management Service Data

On 26 February 2025, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) was activated to assess the extent of the flooding and landslides. This image, based on CEMS data, illustrates the progression of the flooded areas between 24 February and 2 March, with the affected regions marked in varying blue tones.

Copernicus provides essential open data for monitoring flood events, offering valuable insights that support emergency response efforts, including rescue and recovery operations in the wake of natural disasters.

Featured image credit: European Union, Copernicus Emergency Management Service Data | Basemap: Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

Nuclear powers have ‘responsibility’ to uphold nuclear taboo: Nobel committeeNews

Nuclear powers have ‘responsibility’ to uphold nuclear taboo: Nobel committee

Oslo, Norway (AFP) - The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Friday that nuclear powers had a special "responsibility" to uphold the taboo against the use of…
SourceSourceOctober 11, 2024 Full article
Microbes found to destroy certain ‘forever chemicals’Science

Microbes found to destroy certain ‘forever chemicals’

By David Danelski | University of California - Riverside A UC Riverside environmental engineering team has discovered specific bacterial species that can destroy certain kinds…
SourceSourceJuly 17, 2024 Full article
Image: Foggy shot of the floating torii of miyajima, japan during rain
Japan cancels flights and trains as another typhoon approachesNews

Japan cancels flights and trains as another typhoon approaches

Tokyo, Japan (AFP) - Hundreds of Japanese flights and trains were cancelled Thursday in the middle of a major holiday week as another typhoon roared…
SourceSourceAugust 15, 2024 Full article