Karen Toro

Freelance photographer

www.karentoro.com/

Landslide in Alausí, Chimborazo - For Reuters

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Location: Quito, Ecuador

Nationality: Ecuadorian

Biography: Quito, 1990. My work in the artistic and photographic field is related to issues of human rights, migration, education and gender. My labour is based on the belief in the social importance of photography as a way to relate, make visible and... MORE

Panoramic view of Alaus&iac... the night of Sunday, March 26.

Panoramic view of Alausí, a town in the central Ecuadorian highlands.
On the left is the massive landslide that buried dozens of houses, a stadium and a coliseum in Alausí, Chimborazo province, during the night of Sunday, March 26.

An indigenous woman observes fr...oods in Alausi. March 27, 2023.

An indigenous woman observes from a bridge the landslide that swept away entire neighborhoods in Alausi. March 27, 2023.

With the first light of day, 8 ... to be noticed. March 27, 2023.

With the first light of day, 8 hours after the landslide, the magnitude of the damage caused begins to be noticed. March 27, 2023.

Three days after the disaster, ...ed search dogs. March 29, 2023.

Three days after the disaster, search and rescue teams approach the area known as "ground zero" with trained search dogs. March 29, 2023.

One of the few buildings that r... the landslide. March 28, 2023.

One of the few buildings that remained standing after the landslide can be seen in the area below the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Military personnel and firemen ...lmost 16 hours. March 27, 2023.

Military personnel and firemen rescued alive a small dog that was under debris for almost 16 hours. March 27, 2023.

A female firefighter holds and ...s under rubble. March 27, 2023.

A female firefighter holds and tries to calm a dog rescued after 16 hours under rubble. March 27, 2023.

Aerial view of the landslide area. March 27, 2023.

A man descends some stairs left... the landslide. March 28, 2023.

A man descends some stairs left standing after the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Groups of volunteers collect an...y the mudslide. March 28, 2023.

Groups of volunteers collect and organize food kits for people affected by the mudslide. March 28, 2023.

A family cleans the shelter are...ing their home. March 28, 2023.

A family cleans the shelter area where they had to stay after losing their home. March 28, 2023.

Detail of a dog's paw f...n the mudslide. March 29, 2023.

Detail of a dog's paw full of mud, this pet is looking for his family who disappeared in the mudslide. March 29, 2023.

Young people remain in shock in... and relatives. March 27, 2023.

Young people remain in shock in the area of the landslide, they have not slept as they searched all night for their friends and relatives. March 27, 2023.

Group of community members forc...e zone is safe. March 29, 2023.

Group of community members forcibly enter the landslide zone to continue searching for their neighbors and relatives, official rescue groups do not enter until they know that the zone is safe. March 29, 2023.

Jacob, a dog who has not stoppe... still missing. March 29, 2023.

Jacob, a dog who has not stopped returning to the landslide area in search of his family who is still missing. March 29, 2023.

Detail of objects found in the debris. March 27, 2023.

Rescue workers ask for silence ...n do their job. March 27, 2023.

Rescue workers ask for silence so that sniffer dogs can do their job. March 27, 2023.

General view of the landslide z...missing people. March 28, 2023.

General view of the landslide zone, hundreds of community members and rescue workers from all over the country search for the dozens of missing people. March 28, 2023.

With fear the inhabitants of Al... the landslide. March 27, 2023.

With fear the inhabitants of Alausí observe from a distant viewpoint the magnitude of the landslide. March 27, 2023.

Detail of objects found in the debris. March 27, 2023.

A rescuer takes a break from his search work. March 27, 2023.

Groups of volunteers collect and organize food kits for people affected by the mudslide. March 28, 2023.

A shelter is prepared for the a...nter of Alausi. March 27, 2023.

A shelter is prepared for the arrival of people affected by the landslide in the center of Alausi. March 27, 2023.

Military members help to evacua...in a risk zone. March 28, 2023.

Military members help to evacuate homes located in a risk zone. March 28, 2023.

Debris from big houses that wer... the landslide. March 27, 2023.

Debris from big houses that were destroyed after the landslide. March 27, 2023.

Detail of rescue workers and co...issing persons. March 27, 2023.

Detail of rescue workers and community members searching for missing persons. March 27, 2023.

Conventillo community, one hour... the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Conventillo community, one hour from Alausi, where a wake was held for 4 members of the same family who died in the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Four members of the same family... the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Four members of the same family: father, mother and their children, are mourned after having died in the landslide. March 28, 2023.

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Thumbnail of Panoramic view of Alaus&iacu_g the night of Sunday, March 26.

Thumbnail of An indigenous woman observes fro_hoods in Alausi. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of With the first light of day, 8 h_s to be noticed. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of Three days after the disaster, s_ned search dogs. March 29, 2023.

Thumbnail of One of the few buildings that re_w the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Thumbnail of Military personnel and firemen r_almost 16 hours. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of A female firefighter holds and t_rs under rubble. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of Aerial view of the landslide area. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of A man descends some stairs left _r the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Thumbnail of Groups of volunteers collect and_by the mudslide. March 28, 2023.

Thumbnail of A family cleans the shelter area_sing their home. March 28, 2023.

Thumbnail of Detail of a dog's paw fu_in the mudslide. March 29, 2023.

Thumbnail of Young people remain in shock in _s and relatives. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of Group of community members forci_he zone is safe. March 29, 2023.

Thumbnail of Jacob, a dog who has not stopped_s still missing. March 29, 2023.

Thumbnail of Detail of objects found in the debris. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of Rescue workers ask for silence s_an do their job. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of General view of the landslide zo_ missing people. March 28, 2023.

Thumbnail of With fear the inhabitants of Ala_f the landslide. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of A rescuer takes a break from his search work. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of A shelter is prepared for the ar_enter of Alausi. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of Military members help to evacuat_ in a risk zone. March 28, 2023.

Thumbnail of Debris from big houses that were_r the landslide. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of Detail of rescue workers and com_missing persons. March 27, 2023.

Thumbnail of Conventillo community, one hour _n the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Thumbnail of Four members of the same family:_n the landslide. March 28, 2023.

Public Story

Landslide in Alausí, Chimborazo - For Reuters

Copyright Karen Toro 2024

Date of Work Mar 2023 - Mar 2023

Updated Apr 2023

Location Chimborazo, Ecuador

Topics Media

Summary

A landslide of great proportions buried dozens of houses, a stadium and a coliseum in Alausí, province of Chimborazo, during the night of Sunday, March 26.
As of April 7, 32 people were reported rescued alive, 30 bodies of deceased persons and 58 still missing.

A landslide of great proportions buried dozens of houses, a stadium and a coliseum in Alausí, province of Chimborazo, during the night of Sunday, March 26.

Twenty-four hours later, relatives of missing persons were still searching for their loved ones and complained to the central government about the slow progress of rescue efforts.

As of April 7, 32 people were reported rescued alive, 30 bodies of deceased persons and 58 missing.

Military, civilian, firefighters and police rescue groups are still working on the removal of debris, during the first 24 hours of the disaster, pets were found still alive.

The inhabitants of Alausi are still in shock trying to understand what happened and extremely worried about their future in a community that lives mostly from the countryside and tourism.

See the galleries on the Reuters website:

Landslide kills least 16 Ecuadors Andes

Digging with scant hope families search dozens missing ecuador landslide

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