The measure seeks to address the 17 fires that are still active and another five that are currently under control in the southern provinces of Azuay and Loja.

The Government of Ecuador, led by President Daniel Noboa, declared a national emergency for sixty days on Monday in response to the magnitude of the forest fires, the water shortage and the drought affecting the Latin American country.

The Minister of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, Inés Manzano, has confirmed the measure with the aim of dealing with the 17 fires that are still active and another five that are currently under control. The flames are affecting the southern provinces of Azuay and Loja.

According to the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR), members of the Armed Forces and the National Police are participating in the fire-fighting efforts, which are focused on Cajas National Park (Azuay) and Podocarpus National Park (Loja).

The governments of Peru and Italy have contributed helicopters to try to combat the active outbreaks, which in the case of Azuay have affected more than 1.7 million hectares since November 1, while in Loja more than 8,500 hectares have been consumed in up to 10 cantons.

The forest fires are compounded by power cuts to alleviate the current energy shortage, caused by the drought affecting the main hydroelectric plants and the reduction in supply from neighbouring Colombia.

Authorities have justified the measure by citing an unprecedented drought in the last half century, which has led some power plants to accumulate water levels that barely exceed the minimum necessary to continue operating.

Noboa acknowledged at the end of September that the energy crisis has plunged the South American nation into "chaos" and said that the government did not foresee that in 2024 it would have to face the worst drought season in the last 60 years.