A man stands inside a dark shop due to the energy rationing in Quito, on April 18, 2024. Parts of Ecuador were facing power cuts of up to 13 hours on Thursday amid an electricity crisis sparked by a drought that has left key hydroelectric reservoirs nearly depleted. A government decree ordering workers to stay home went largely ignored, with buses running as usual in the capital Quito, where traffic lights were out in some areas due to blackouts. (Photo by Rodrigo BUENDIA / AFP)