Ecuador's rainy season hits coastal residents hard - as heavy downpours cause severe flooding in several communities.

Residents wade through waist deep water - trying to salvage what belongings they can.

Here, a river overflowed its bank, forcing hundreds of people to abandon their homes.

The deluge has destroyed crops, and local authorities say one person died after falling into the water during an epileptic seizure.

The rains have also affected mountainous regions, with local authorities reporting several mudslides, and multiple closed roads.

Travis Brecher, Reuters