Guayaquil: Ecuador's Economic Engine

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake was recorded in Guayas late Sunday night, with the epicenter confirmed in Duran. Authorities reported no injuries or infrastructure damage, but the tremor was felt in 17 cantons across Guayas, Bolivar, and Los Rios.

Central Guayaquil road closures are in effect for July civic events, including a full closure of 9 de Octubre and a Malecón closure through Saturday morning. Travelers are being advised to plan ahead and use alternate routes.

The Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil has developed accessibility tools for students with visual disabilities, including a specialized workstation and keyboard. The project has helped five students complete their degrees.

Durán’s garbage collection service was set to resume on July 14 after nearly three weeks of suspension. The dispute involved a municipal debt above $9.7 million and about 350 tons of daily waste.

July has no national Ecuador holiday, but Guayaquil will have a local day off on Friday, July 24, creating a three-day weekend for people who work or study in the canton and its rural parishes.

Guayaquil’s ATM is offering staged discounts for July vehicle technical review appointments tied to plates ending in 6. The discount falls from 20% to 10% as the July 15 cutoff approaches.

Guayaquil riders will keep paying 30 cents for the first 180 days after the ordinance is published. After that transition, fares depend on whether each bus unit completes the required modernization process.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation of Ecuador’s Chone Killers as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist. Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry thanked the United States for the backing.

Seismic specialists are warning that Guayaquil’s soft soils, older structures and informal construction could make parts of the city especially vulnerable in a major earthquake.