Guayaquil, April 4, 2025
Last Friday, professors and researchers from the School of Maritime Engineering and Marine Sciences (FIMCM) of ESPOL participated in a discussion with the media to analyze the impacts and implications of the current winter season in Ecuador.
The meeting, motivated by the intense rains and thunderstorms recently recorded in Guayaquil, was attended by professors Ph.D. María del Pilar Cornejo, Ph.D. Franklin Ormaza and MSc. Jonathan Cedeño, who addressed the phenomenon from various scientific and risk management perspectives.
During the conference, it was highlighted that the storm of April 1, 2025 was the strongest recorded so far this season, reaching intensities of 52 mm/h, which caused emergencies in 65 areas of the city and temporary effects on the operations of the Guayaquil airport.
MSc. Jonathan Cedeño explained that, according to the forecast models, the rains could continue until April 7, with a high probability of extending for another week, due to the thermal conditions of the ocean.
Franklin Ormaza, Ph.D., warned that this period of rainfall coincides with the peak of downpours, which represents an additional risk factor. According to his projections, on April 13, the day of the presidential elections, there could be an increase in rainfall combined with a rise in sea level, increasing the risk of flooding.
Finally, Ph. D. María del Pilar Cornejo emphasized the importance of effective coordination between the central government, local governments and citizens as part of disaster prevention policies. She stressed that April will be a critical month, where timely information and coordinated decisions will be fundamental to reduce the impact of climate events.
The IFCMM reiterates its commitment to the generation of applied scientific knowledge and effective communication to society on issues related to climate, risk management and coastal sustainability.
▶️ You can watch the full conversation here:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BgbE3JE88o
