The Ecuadorian government declared a nationwide red alert on Saturday following the rapid evolution of ocean and weather conditions associated with the El Niño climate phenomenon.
The emergency measure was adopted by the National Risk Management Secretariat through Resolution No. SNGR-238-2026. The agency stated that the decision aims to immediately strengthen preparation and response actions across the South American country to mitigate potential impacts from the weather event.
Official confirmation of the event came on Saturday afternoon from the National Committee for the Regional Study of the El Niño Phenomenon, known as ERFEN. The scientific body officially confirmed the presence of El Niño in Ecuador after assessing atmospheric and oceanographic conditions recorded throughout August.
Emergency response and local protocols
The red alert declaration requires institutions to enter an advanced phase of emergency readiness. According to the SNGR, responsible agencies must immediately implement response procedures, contingency plans, and risk protocols to address potential disruptions.
Under the resolution, Emergency Operations Committees at both provincial and cantonal levels have been activated. These local committees are required to coordinate necessary actions within their respective territories to manage emerging risk scenarios.
Key measures outlined in the official response framework include preparing for preventive evacuations, deploying emergency response mechanisms, mobilizing public resources, and safeguarding residents living in areas exposed to potential hazards.
In addition, Ecuador's Decentralized Autonomous Governments, which comprise municipal and regional authorities across the nation, must execute their respective local action plans tailored to the El Niño threat.
The SNGR serves as Ecuador's central government body for civil protection and disaster mitigation. The agency confirmed it will maintain continuous monitoring of the situation while coordinating with all levels of government to enhance territorial response capacity.
Climate indicators and peak intensity forecast
The government's red alert comes directly in response to ERFEN's formal declaration of the phenomenon. The committee determined that all four environmental criteria established under Ecuador's official evaluation protocol were fulfilled, highlighted by significant warming across the Pacific Ocean.
El Niño is a recurring climate pattern characterized by unusual ocean surface warming in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. Along South America's western coast, the phenomenon frequently causes torrential rainfall, severe flooding, and coastal disruption while altering weather systems around the globe.
Projections analyzed by ERFEN indicate that the climate event will undergo progressive strengthening over the coming months as oceanic warming continues.
Looking ahead, ERFEN forecast that El Niño is projected to reach a very strong intensity level between late 2026 and early 2027.
