Guayaquil, Ecuador – In a tragic turn of events, armed gunmen unleashed a violent attack in the coastal city of Guayaquil, leaving eight individuals dead and eight others injured, as confirmed by Ecuador’s Interior Ministry. This incident marks the latest in a series of violent events in the South American nation.
The attack unfolded around 7 p.m. on Saturday in the southern neighborhood of Guasmo, where witnesses reported that armed men arrived in a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people, resulting in the death of two individuals. Sadly, six others succumbed to their injuries at a health center due to the severity of their wounds, as relayed by the ministry to the press.
No immediate claims of responsibility have been made in connection to the attack, leaving authorities and the community searching for answers in the midst of tragedy. This assault follows closely behind another mass killing just the day before, where five individuals who were reportedly kidnapped met a grim fate in the coastal province of Manabi at the hands of an armed gang.
Ecuador’s President, Daniel Noboa, took to social media to address the escalating violence, emphasizing the ongoing battle against narcoterrorism and its affiliates who seek to instill fear in the populace. Incidents like these have compelled the government to take decisive action, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency earlier this year and the implementation of security measures to combat the rise in violent crime.
The recent events in Manabi, including the tragic loss of a town mayor and a deadly prison riot in Guayaquil, underscore the challenges facing Ecuador as it contends with a surge in violent attacks and criminal activities. The nation, once heralded as a beacon of peace in the region, now grapples with a troubling rise in violent deaths, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and concerted efforts to address the root causes of such violence.