Ecuador Declares Nationwide Red Alert Due to El Niño Phenomenon

Ecuador has declared a red alert nationwide due to the evolution of conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon. The National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR) made this decision on Saturday, August 29, 2026, through Resolution SNGR-238-2026. The measure aims to strengthen institutional preparation and reduce possible impacts on the population. The declaration was made after the National Committee for the Regional Study of the El Niño Phenomenon (CN-ERFEN) determined that the established technical criteria had been met to confirm the presence of the phenomenon in Ecuador. Recent analyzes show an increase in sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean, with anomalies reaching approximately +4°C in the Niño 1+2 region and +2.6°C in Niño 3.4. Anomalies of between +2°C and +3°C were recorded off the continental coast of Ecuador and in the Galapagos area. Projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate that the phenomenon will continue to strengthen until the end of 2026, with a 69% probability of reaching a historical magnitude during the October-December period.