The port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador is in chaos after gunfire and an explosion left five people dead, 17 injured, and several others missing.

Authorities said the explosion also damaged homes and other buildings. The incident happened on Sunday in Guayaquil's Cristo del Consuelo neighborhood, considered a working-class neighborhood.

According to Ecuador's Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo, organized crime may have been involved in the attack and used explosives. He added that this attack was a "declaration of war against the State."

The victims caught in the explosion have no connections to criminal activity and were just bystanders caught up in the blast, according to police. However, police are still investigating those who were injured to know if they have any connections to these organized crime elements.

Ecuador's Guayaquil Now Under a State of Emergency, Troops Deployed

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency for the city. Security forces are now authorized to inspect houses as part of the investigation around the incident. 

The attack has also been classified as an act of terrorism by the Ecuadorian government. With the declaration of the state of emergency, state security forces have been mobilized and are expected to be in the city for 30 days.

Privacy rules for mailed items and the right to a public gathering have been suspended under the decree. This is not just for Guayaquil but also nearby areas, including Duran and Samborondon.

Since the president declared the state of emergency, police have conducted 11 raids across the city. So far, five people have been arrested. 

Authorities have also seized drugs, guns, and explosives. However, Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo did not provide further details, as investigations into the explosion and shooting incidents are still under investigation.

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Drug Gangs Operating in Guayaquil in Ecuador Known for Using Explosives

The Associated Press reported that the Guayaquil, which is around 270 kilometers southwest of the capital Quito, has plenty of rival gangs vying for supremacy. 

These gangs are believed to have links to national and international drug trafficking syndicates. Dozens were killed in massacres in the city's biggest state prison last year.

Even though investigations are still ongoing to see who is responsible, the Ecuadorian government has linked the blast to these violent street gangs known to use explosives in their battles against police and other rival drug gangs.

The government has been raising alarms because of the rise in violence, as these gangs seek to control drug trafficking routes to the United States and Europe.

So far, there have been 145 registered explosive attacks in Ecuador this year, according to Reuters. Almost half of them, around 72, were recorded in Guayaquil. The city is also considered one of the most crime-affected cities in Ecuador.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Ecuador: Explosion in Guayaquil Leaves Several People Dead and Injured - From TeleSUR English