Authorities in Ecuador have reported a tragic incident in the coastal city of Guayaquil, where armed gunmen carried out a deadly attack, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and leaving eight others injured. The Interior Ministry confirmed that the assailants targeted a group of people in the southern neighborhood of Guasmo on Saturday evening.
Witnesses described how the armed men arrived in a vehicle and opened fire on the group, leading to the immediate deaths of two individuals. Tragically, six more victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at a health center due to the severity of their wounds.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time, adding to the sense of uncertainty and fear in the region. This incident marks the latest in a series of violent events that have shaken Ecuador in recent times.
Just a day prior to this attack, another grim incident occurred in the coastal province of Manabi, where five individuals who had been kidnapped were brutally killed execution-style by an armed gang. Authorities suspect that the victims, including tourists, were inadvertently caught up in a local drug-trafficking dispute.
Law enforcement managed to rescue six other individuals, including five minors, who had been abducted in the same incident. Two suspects linked to the kidnapping and killings were apprehended by the police following intensive investigations.
President Daniel Noboa expressed his condemnation of the violence, emphasizing that Ecuador remains resolute in the face of such threats. He highlighted the ongoing battle against narcoterrorism and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.
Ecuador, once known for its relative peace in Latin America, has witnessed a concerning rise in violent incidents in recent years. In response to the escalating violence, a state of emergency was declared earlier this year, enabling enhanced security operations and the implementation of curfews in high-risk areas.
The tragic deaths of the mayor of a small town in Manabi and a riot in a Guayaquil prison further underscore the challenges facing Ecuador in maintaining public safety. With a homicide rate exceeding 40 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, Ecuador is grappling with one of the highest rates of violent crime in the region.
