Local authorities in Ecuador reported today, Wednesday, that at least eight people have been killed in the city of Guayaquil in the western part of the country, which has witnessed violence by criminal gangs, according to news agencies.
A spokesperson for law enforcement authorities, during a televised press conference, stated: "Since the first reports of the incidents, we have been informed of the killing of eight people, two injuries, the burning of two cars, two motorcycles, and the injury of a police officer by a gunshot."
Aquiles Alvarez, the city's mayor, stated that the first responders received over 1,900 calls about crimes and disturbances.
In a related context, Ecuador's prison administration announced that at least 139 prison guards are still being held hostage by members of criminal gangs following the prison riots in Ecuador.
The United States has expressed "extreme concern" about the ongoing violence in Ecuador, which prompted the country's president to declare a state of emergency and deploy the military in cities to assist in maintaining security.
Gang violence erupted in Ecuador on January 7th after the escape of a gang leader known as "Vito," who heads the Los Choneros gang, from prison.
The crisis escalated into a major security crisis when President Daniel Nóbrega declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew the following day in an attempt to suppress the prison disturbances that erupted after Vito's escape.
Nóbrega issued an executive order declaring an "armed internal conflict" in the country and ordered the neutralization of 22 criminal groups.
These gangs were classified as "terrorist organizations and non-state belligerent entities."
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