Heavy rainfall accompanied by severe hail struck Quito on October 4, 2026. The storm caused widespread flooding that forced the temporary closure of the El Labrador Metro station and stranded commuters in sunken underpasses across the capital.
Impact on Quito Metro Infrastructure
The annual meteorological phenomenon, locally known as the “Cordonazo de San Francisco,” brought sudden downpours that inundated several northern sectors of the city. At the El Labrador Metro station, surface water poured down into the access points. This prompted operators to evacuate passengers immediately as a safety precaution.
Metro maintenance workers used brooms to clear rapidly rising water from the facility. Meanwhile, technical teams evaluated potential risks to critical underground infrastructure. The Empresa Metro de Quito confirmed that operations at El Labrador were suspended temporarily, though the rest of the transit line maintained standard service.
Traffic Disruptions and Emergency Rescues
Surrounding surface roads experienced severe traffic congestion. Public transit buses and general traffic had to divert from flooded corridors. In the northern La Y neighborhood, two passenger vehicles became completely submerged in a flooded sunken underpass along Avenida 10 de Agosto.
The Metropolitan Transit Agency (AMT) and the Quito Fire Department deployed nearly 100 personnel to manage road closures and execute water rescues. Emergency crews successfully freed the occupants stranded in the La Y underpass. They later responded to a similar vehicle entrapment incident in the El Condado sector.
Weather Phenomenon and Historical Context
The severe storm coincided directly with the Catholic feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. Historically, heavy downpours frequently strike the Ecuadorian capital around this date. This reinforces the traditional local moniker known as the Cordonazo de San Francisco.
As the intense weather subsided late Sunday afternoon, accumulated ice pellets blanketed streets and public plazas, including the historic Plaza de San Francisco. Local authorities reported that municipal teams remain on high alert following days of persistent weather anomalies, which included multiple urban landslides and wind-related incidents across Quito.
