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Quito Declares State of Emergency as Wildfires Rage

Authorities arrest suspect as firefighters battle blazes exacerbated by severe drought, displacing residents and disrupting daily life.

  • Quito's mayor declared a state of emergency to facilitate coordinated firefighting efforts and access to resources.
  • A 19-year-old suspect was arrested with a gallon of fuel, believed to have intentionally started one of the fires.
  • The wildfires have injured six people, destroyed seven homes, and displaced over 100 families in the capital.
  • Severe drought conditions, the worst in 60 years, have intensified the fires and led to rolling blackouts across Ecuador.
  • Schools and government offices in Quito have been closed, with residents urged to stay indoors due to poor air quality.
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