Quito hailstorm leaves streets buried under ice in Ecuador as authorities remove 552 cubic metres of hail following an extreme storm on October 7, 2026.Quito, Ecuador, was hit by intense rain, hail and thunderstorms that covered roads and underpasses with thick layers of ice. In some locations, hail accumulated to between 60 and 80 centimetres, blocking roads, disrupting transport and forcing emergency crews to launch extensive clean-up operations.Quito's municipality reported that 552 cubic metres of hail were removed by October 8. Around 416 cubic metres were cleared from Avenida Colón and Diego de Almagro, while another 136 cubic metres were removed from the Atahualpa underpass.Authorities recorded 37 emergency incidents, with 80% linked to flooding associated with hail accumulation. A roof also collapsed at the National Polytechnic School, although officials reported no casualties from the day's incidents.The October 7 hailstorm followed another severe rain and hail event on October 4, when Quito recorded 66 millimetres of rainfall in roughly three hours, according to reporting citing Ecuador's meteorological institute, INAMHI.Watch the latest footage of the Quito hailstorm, hail-covered streets, extreme weather in Ecuador, flooding, transport disruption and municipal crews clearing ice from major roads.Weather warnings issued ahead of October 11 also indicated the potential for further rain and thunderstorms. Forecasts are subject to change.Subscribe for more breaking weather news, natural disasters, extreme rainfall, flood footage and international news updates.
