The entity detailed in a statement that the decision was made due to heavy rains here in recent hours, particularly in the Amazonian province of Napo, which “significantly accelerated” the erosion of the Coca River.

The OCP ordered the closure of the valves as a preventive measure to avoid an oil spill and to protect the environment and the surrounding community, the document referred.

In April, the OCP transported 200,000 barrels of oil per day and moved 40% of the crude oil extracted in Ecuador, although the total capacity of the pipeline is 450,000 barrels per day.

Heavy rainfalls this weekend in Ecuador affected 10 provinces and 29 cities, according to the Secretariat of Risk Management (SGR). According to the SGR’s latest report, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi and Tungurahua are the provinces most affected by rainfalls.

In the latter, seven people were reported dead as a result of a landslide in the town of Baños de Agua Santa, where at least 18 people are still missing.

The SGR detected 54 climatic events considered dangerous in the regions of the Central Highlands and the Amazon, 44% of which correspond to landslides.

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