Vilcabamba family seeks support after home invasion; Rainfall should decrease in May

A British expat couple with two young daughters is asking for financial support following a home invasion and robbery last week in Vilcabamba. According to the husband, who asked that the family remain unnamed, 12 armed men entered their home and took all the family’s money, except for $200.

The family needs donations for food, travel and new housing. To help, please go to gf.me/u/b32r4.

Rainfall should decrease in May

A flooded street in Santo Domingo.

Ecuador’s national weather service predicts a drying trend for most of the country in May. Unseasonably warm Pacific Ocean water, just offshore the South American coast, has caused record rainfall in much of Peru and Ecuador since February. Water temperatures averaged 4° to 5° C above normal from late February to early April, generating strong storms in the coastal and Andean regions.

Flooding has killed more 200 in Peru, which has set all-time rainfall records, and 32 in Ecuador.

The weather service says offshore water temperatures are currently 1° above normal and should return to normal by the end of the month.

San Francsico Plaza traffic plans to be announced

The municipal transportation department says it will announce new traffic plans in the area of San Francisco Plaza next week. When reconstruction of the plaza begins on Monday, vendors who currently occupy most of the plaza will be relocated to Padre Aguirre between Juan Jaramillo and Presidente Córdova, which will be closed to traffic.

The major challenge during construction, says transportation chief Jaime Guzman, will be keeping Presidente Córdova open to bus traffic. The street is a major east-west bus route in the historic district. Córdova will be the access route for heavy equipment and material for the plaza project.