Armed men killed at least 17 people and injured 11 others in an attack on a bar in the coastal province of Guayas, Ecuador, the country’s Attorney’s Office said. The case is still being investigated.
The Attorney’s Office said more than 40 pieces of ballistic evidence were recovered at the scene. Images shared by the media showed bodies fallen on the floor, some covered by white sheets.
Sunday’s attack (27) took place in the city of El Empalme, about 160 km north of Guayaquil, where organized crime groups fight for the control of the main drug smugs routes.
At the beginning of last year, it declared a “internal armed conflict,” but despite state measures, violence increased notably in Guayas.
Although Noboa has fired a 15% drop in violent deaths in 2024, according to the Interior Ministry, the number rose 47% over the previous year in the first six months of 2025, totaling 4,619.
Last month, the National Assembly of Ecuador approved a reform that grants the government more legal powers to face armed groups and dismantle drug trafficking networks that feed their activities.
