Foreign Ministry urges Israeli travelers in Ecuador to exercise caution amid El Niño red alert

Israelis in Ecuador were urged to avoid flood- and landslide-prone areas as authorities maintain a nationwide red alert over El Niño.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged Israelis in Ecuador to exercise increased caution after authorities in the South American country declared a nationwide red alert over the developing El Niño weather phenomenon.

Ecuador’s National Secretariat for Risk Management declared the red alert across the country on August 29, ordering provincial and local emergency committees to strengthen preparations and response measures. Ecuadorian authorities have said the alert is intended to accelerate preparedness and does not mean that severe rainfall will immediately affect every part of the country.

El Niño is a climate phenomenon caused by unusually warm surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The warming alters rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns and can produce sharply different conditions across affected regions.

In Ecuador, the phenomenon could bring heavy rain, flooding, rising river levels, and landslides in some areas, while other parts of the country could face unusually dry, hot conditions. Ecuador’s official El Niño monitoring portal currently lists the country at red-alert level, while the latest available technical bulletin said the phenomenon was in its initial stage of development.

Foreign Ministry warns Israelis in Ecuador to avoid travelling to areas in danger of flooding

The Foreign Ministry advised Israelis in Ecuador to follow instructions from local authorities and avoid traveling through areas vulnerable to flooding, landslides, or strong water flows.

Travelers were specifically warned not to cross rivers, streams, or flooded roads, even when the water appears shallow.

The warning comes as governments and emergency agencies prepare for the wider effects of a strengthening El Niño weather pattern. The phenomenon has been associated with increased risks of extreme rainfall and flooding in parts of the Americas, while contributing to hotter and drier conditions elsewhere.

Earlier in September, Israeli authorities also conducted drills to prepare for the possible effects of a particularly strong El Niño event, including scenarios involving floods, strong winds, infrastructure disruption, and interruptions to electricity and water supplies.

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that strong El Niño conditions could increase the risk of extreme weather around the world, while climate models have pointed to potentially significant effects during the second half of 2026 and into 2027. 

In an emergency, travelers in Ecuador can contact the local emergency service by dialing 911.

The emergency line of the Israeli Embassy in Quito is *+593-2-397-1500*, a number also listed by the embassy as its emergency contact.

Israelis can also contact the Foreign Ministry Situation Center at *02-530-3155* or by fax at *02-530-3896*. The ministry has previously published the same Situation Center telephone and fax numbers in its guidance for Israelis in Ecuador.