Ecuador: Armed Assault Claims Ten Lives
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Quito, Dec 2 (NationPress) At least ten individuals, comprising Ecuadorians and Colombians, lost their lives in a violent armed assault in El Guabo, a locality within the coastal province of El Oro in southern Ecuador, as reported by local media.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the armed perpetrators indiscriminately opened fire on numerous people resting in a rental property during the early hours of Sunday, as per Xinhua news agency.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident might be associated with ongoing disputes among organized criminal factions, according to local law enforcement.
The occurrence was reported around 5:00 a.m. local time when residents heard gunfire and subsequently discovered multiple bodies along a nearby roadway.
The province of El Oro has been under a state of emergency since October 3, following a significant uptick in violence and insecurity. This measure, which is set to persist for 60 days, also encompasses seven other regions of the nation, including the capital, Quito, all of which are facing rising crime rates.
Throughout this year, Ecuador has experienced a notable increase in violence, encompassing homicides, kidnappings, and extortion incidents. In response to this surge, President Daniel Noboa declared an "internal armed conflict" in January against 22 criminal organizations designated as "terrorists."
