Ecuador declares state of emergency after new massacre claims five lives: Video
Ecuador is grappling with escalating violence as a recent massacre left five individuals dead, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency in response to rising criminal gang activity.
According to police reports, four victims were found shot, while a fifth succumbed to injuries after being transported to a medical facility.
Witnesses, speaking under anonymity for security reasons, recounted harrowing details of the incident. One witness described how armed assailants, purportedly disguised military personnel, targeted a specific individual known as "Negro." The attack escalated when the victim attempted to barricade himself inside his home, only for the attackers to forcibly enter and fatally shoot him.
Another witness recalled the chaotic scene, stating, "They were shouting... and then they said, 'massacre, massacre!'" This has raised fears among residents, particularly as they learned of the identities of the victims, including individuals known as "Papelito," "El Negro," and "Miguelito."
The Ecuadorian government has reported a decline in overall homicide rates, from 6,037 deaths in the first ten months of 2023 to 4,959 in the same period this year. However, violent crime remains a critical issue, with the homicide rate skyrocketing from 6 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018 to 47 in 2023.
Authorities attribute most killings to territorial disputes among drug trafficking gangs.
