Azuay Mining Camp Buried By Mudslide In Ecuador, Three Dead, Rescue Teams Race To Site

Cuenca, Ecuador— A mudslide tore through a mining camp in Azuay province on October 25, 2026, killing three workers and triggering an emergency relief effort in the steep Andean highlands south of Cuenca.

The slide hit around 5:30 a.m. in the Ponce Enríquez mining district, where artisanal and small-scale camps cling to slopes cleared of vegetation. Heavy overnight rain saturated spoil piles above the camp. A mass of mud, rock, and timber collapsed onto sleeping quarters.

Local officials said the camp housed about 30 miners working a gold vein. Three men in one dormitory were buried. Colleagues dug with shovels and picks for an hour before civil defense arrived. All three were recovered dead. Two others were treated for injuries and hypothermia.

The National Risk Management Secretariat said 12 people were evacuated to a community center in Camilo Ponce Enríquez. The access road was blocked by a second smaller slide. Heavy machinery was brought from a nearby quarry to reopen it, but rain kept falling.

A relief coordinator said, "The ground is still moving. We are moving people away from the toe of the slope before we bring in more equipment." Geologists flagged the area as high-risk due to informal terracing and water pooling from mining operations.

Azuay has seen a boom in small gold camps that operate with limited oversight. Environmental officials have warned that waste piles and diverted streams increase landslide risk, especially during October rains that have intensified this year.

The mayor of Ponce Enríquez requested shelter, food, and psychosocial support for families. The Ministry of Energy and Mines said it will inspect legal permits for the camp and whether drainage rules were followed.

Relatives gathered at the camp edge as police logged names. The victims, all men aged 24 to 41, were from neighboring provinces. Their bodies were transferred to Cuenca for autopsy and then to families.

Rescue crews will remain through the night with lights, watching for new movement on the slope. The site is closed pending a stability assessment.