Schools in flooded parts of Guayaquil, Durán and Samborondón switch to remote classes as Inamhi forecasts another rain peak this afternoon

Illustrative image: sunset over Guayaquil. Photo by Kevin Arteaga on Unsplash (Unsplash License). Not a photo of the current flooding.

Schools in flood-hit areas of Guayaquil, Durán and Samborondón are holding classes remotely on Tuesday, October 27, after a storm on Monday afternoon and evening left dozens of neighbourhoods in Ecuador’s largest city under water. Forecasters warn that more heavy rain is on the way today.

Remote classes, but not a general suspension

Education Minister Gilda Alcívar announced on Monday night that non-classroom learning would apply on Tuesday in areas of the three cantons “that present mobility problems because of flooding,” Vistazo reported. The decision is based on the ministry’s Educational Continuity Plan and official information from the national emergency committee (COE).

The measure is not a blanket closure. Schools in sectors where students can travel safely may keep in-person lessons, and each school’s rector decides after assessing local conditions. On Monday the ministry had already sent afternoon-shift students home early and cancelled night classes in sectors flagged by the National Risk Management Secretariat.

How bad was Monday’s storm?

According to the cantonal emergency committee, cited by Metro Ecuador, rainfall in Guayaquil reached 170.37 mm and 57 zones were affected. Counts rose through the evening: the municipal agency Segura EP reported between 42 and 60 sectors with standing water, according to Vistazo, and Primicias put the figure at 66 in its latest update.

Earlier in the afternoon, Primicias’ live coverage listed flooding in areas including Alborada, Samanes, Urdenor, La FAE, Garzota and several points on the Daule road and Juan Tanca Marengo avenue. The transit agency ATM warned of water on Benjamín Carrión avenue and the Perimetral expressway. The power utility CNEL EP reported outages in Los Vergeles, Bastión Popular, Santa Leonor and other sectors while crews worked to restore service. No deaths in Guayaquil were reported in the sources consulted for this story.

More rain today

Ecuador’s weather service, Inamhi, expects rain from the early hours through the afternoon, with the most intense period “between 15:00 and 17:00,” Metro Ecuador reported. Rain is also forecast for Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo, Los Ríos, Manabí, Guayas, Santa Elena, Pichincha, Bolívar, Loja and Galápagos. Inamhi will update its warning on Wednesday, October 28, and its preliminary outlook for Thursday and Friday resembles Monday’s conditions.

Between September and October, Guayaquil has recorded 683.9 mm of rain, compared with the 1,055.6 mm it normally receives over an entire rainy season. Local media and scientists have linked the unusually wet weeks to a strengthening El Niño.

What residents should do

Families should check with their school before setting out, since the decision is made school by school. Drivers should avoid flooded underpasses and follow ATM and Segura EP updates, especially during the expected afternoon peak.

Confirmed: remote classes in affected zones, Monday’s rainfall and zone count from the COE, and Inamhi’s forecast. Pending: an updated official damage report and Inamhi’s Wednesday alert review.

Sources

• Vistazo: Ministerio dispone clases no presenciales en zonas afectadas por las lluvias
• Metro Ecuador: ¿Volverá a llover fuerte en Guayaquil? Inamhi prevé otro pico este martes
• Primicias: Guayaquil colapsó tras intensa lluvia y tormenta eléctrica
• Metro Ecuador: Clases no presenciales este martes 27 de octubre
• El Telégrafo: Clases no presenciales se activarán en zonas inundadas

Celina Santa Cruz · Ecuador · Virtual editorial byline
English adaptation: Lin Wei · Editorial direction: Leonidas Ferraz · October 27, 2026 · AI-assisted writing