Ecuador: Gang Violence in Guayaquil Kills 5, Injures 26

Five people died after an explosion in Guayaquil, Ecuador, an incident the authorities blamed on gangs or organized crime groups.

BBC reported that 26 more people were also left injured by the explosion that occurred in Ecuador's port city.

The number of casualties were confirmed by authorities from the Andean country. However, the identities of the victims were not disclosed by the officials. In addition, the severity of the injury after the blast on Sunday was also not mentioned by the authorities.

Associated Press also mentioned that there were reports of missing persons in the aftermath of the explosion.

Aside from Ecuadorians in Guayaquil, properties were also caught in the incident blamed on gangs. Ecuador's Secretariat for Risk Management reported that eight houses and two cars were destroyed in the country's second-largest city, according to France 24.

Explosion in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Gangs' Declaration of War Against State - Interior Minister

On Sunday, Interior Minister Patricio Carillo said in a statement that the violence in Guayaquil is a "declaration of war against the state."

"Either we unite to face it or the price will be even higher for society," Carillo added.

The interior prime minister also confirmed that "organized-crime mercenaries" or gangs in Ecuador are now attacking with explosives.

On late Sunday, authorities also noted that the attack in Guayaquil was directed at two men who go under the aliases of "Cucaracha" and "Junior." The two were reportedly linked to the gang called "Los Tiguerones." The said group is known to be one of the leading crime gangs in Ecuador.

A state of emergency was also declared in Guayaquil following the tragedy. The said measure is reportedly the fourth emergency to be declared in Ecuador since October due to gang violence.

Guayaquil Mayor Comments on Explosion and Gang Violence in Ecuador

Guayaquil Mayor Cynthia Viteri wrote an open letter following the explosion in Ecuador's city.

Viteri slammed Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso for his lack of action in connection to the gang violence in their country.

"A President is the protector of his people, but so far we have not seen a single safe step to combat crime," Viteri noted.

Guayaquil's mayor also claimed that criminal gangs became a government within a government in Ecuador. She also noted that they witnessed people hanged from bridges, murders on motorcycles, and rapes at shopping centers committed by organized crime groups.

Guayaquil, Ecuador has seen frequent shootings and killings by members of rival gangs believed to have links to national and international drug trafficking.

The said port city of Ecuador was ranked the 50th most-violent city in the world by Insight Crime.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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