Manabí Identifies High-Risk Flood and Landslide Zones Ahead of El Niño

Manabi remains under yellow alert as provincial and municipal authorities prepare for possible El Nino impacts.

The highest-risk areas are river basins, rural flood zones and communities built on unstable slopes.

Where the Risk Is Concentrated

The province's history of disasters points to Chone, Portoviejo, Rocafuerte, Sucre, Santa Ana, Montecristi and Jipijapa as cantons with repeated flood and mass-movement problems.

Manabi has 22 hydrographic basins, but the Grande and Chone river basins are among the main concerns.

The provincial multihazard plan identifies 94% of the Grande basin as having high or very high threat levels.

The Chone River overflow last year affected about 12,000 families, making it one of the province's most severe recent events.

Portoviejo and Manta Watch Points

In Portoviejo, authorities are focusing on river-adjacent sectors and unstable slopes. The city has identified 24 to 25 critical points, mostly in rural areas, and 23 temporary shelters for a possible emergency.

Authorities warned that if the phenomenon reaches the projected intensity, 15,000 to 20,000 people could need assistance.

In Manta, the risk areas include sectors around the Manta and Burro rivers and zones with steep slopes. The named hot spots include Barrios Unidos, 5 de Junio and 4 de Noviembre near the Manta River.

Manta also has more than 80 critical points related to storm drainage, although several have already been mitigated through infrastructure work.

What This Means for Expats

For coastal expats, this is a preparation story rather than a panic story.

If you live in Manabi or plan to travel there later this year, pay attention to local risk maps, river-adjacent neighborhoods, drainage problems and road conditions during heavy rain. September and October are the months authorities are watching to better understand how strong the event may become by the end of the year.