Multiple casualties resulting from a shooting incident on a boat off the coast of Ecuador, according to various sources; over a dozen people presumed missing
In a shocking incident, a gunmen attack on a boat off Ecuador's southwestern coast has left at least four people dead and more than a dozen missing. The attack occurred in El Oro province, a region that was recently placed under a two-month state of emergency due to rising violence.
According to reports, around 60 armed men approached the boat and opened fire, while also launching explosives. The assailants tried to escape on three boats but were blocked by the coast guard. One boat managed to flee, while the occupants of the other two abandoned their vessels and disappeared into the mangroves. No arrests have been made yet, but munitions were found on the two abandoned boats.
The exact identities or affiliations of the gunmen have not been confirmed, but the context of escalating violence and the state of emergency suggest involvement of organized criminal groups related to drug trafficking in the region.
Authorities have not publicly commented on the attack so far. The surge in violence in El Oro province is linked to broader issues of drug trafficking and violent crime, which President Daniel Noboa, reelected in May, has vowed to combat. Ecuador experienced a record high of around 8,000 killings in 2023, with violence resurging in 2025, as reflected in over 4,600 killings reported in the first half of the year.
This latest incident comes less than 48 hours after the government placed El Oro province under a two-month state of emergency following a surge in violence. The Associated Press has a writer named Molina covering the story, while local news outlets have also reported on the attack.
As of now, two victims have been identified following the attack, but the search for the missing continues. The Ecuadorian authorities are working diligently to investigate this incident and bring those responsible to justice.
[1] El Oro under state of emergency due to rising violence - Local News Outlet [2] Gunmen attack on boat off Ecuador's coast leaves four dead and dozens missing - Associated Press [3] President Noboa vows to combat drug trafficking and violent crime in Ecuador - National News Outlet
- Amidst the ongoing state of emergency in El Oro due to rising violence, the recent gunmen attack on a boat off Ecuador's coast has highlighted the urgent need for the government to address crime and justice issues.
- With the number of killings skyrocketing in Ecuador, the violent attack on a boat off the southwestern coast could be another sign of the upsurge in crime and justice problems, as the government grapples with drug trafficking and related organized crimes.
- As California-based journalist Molina reports on the gunmen attack off Ecuador's coast, the politics surrounding the escalating violence in El Oro province are drawing intense general-news scrutiny, with President Noboa's promises to combat drug trafficking and violent crime being put to the test.
