In the most-affected provinces, Azuay and Loja, the flames have consumed more than 10,000 hectaresFILE PHOTO: A cloud of smoke and ash is seen covering Quito, as the city has five active fires in its surroundings, Ecuador Sept 4, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File PhotoFILE PHOTO: A cloud of smoke and ash is seen covering Quito, as the city has five active fires in its surroundings, Ecuador Sept 4, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File PhotoEcuador's government declared a 60-day national emergency due to raging forest fires made worse by a severe drought, risk management officials said on Monday. The South American country faces 13 active wildfires and another nine that have been controlled, according to an update from the government's communications office. The emergency decree comes as Ecuador struggles with an energy crisis that has led to power outages of up to 14 hours a day in recent months.
