Blast in Ecuador kills five; officials blame criminal gangs
Ecuador blast kills five
An explosion onSunday left at least five dead and 16 others injuredin the port city of Guayaquil, Ecuador.
During a press conference, Ecuador's interior minister, Patricio Carrillo, said the attack was targeted at two locals known by the aliases "Cucaracha" and "Junior," who are allegedly connected to the "Tiguerones" gang of organised criminals.
In Guayaquil, the nation's second-largest city, where the blastdestroyed eight homes and two cars, President Guillermo Lasso proclaimed a state of emergency.
On Twitter, Lasso issued a warning, saying that his one-year-old administration "will not allow organised crime to try to controlthe country."
Security Secretary Diego Ordonez announced during a press conference that the coastal citywill be under a state of emergency which would last for 30 days.30 days.
The five people who died have been recognised, according to Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo, and nonehad a criminal history.
Ecuador, which is situated between Colombia and Peru, the world's two major producers of cocaine, is dealing with a drug-fueled crime wave that has resulted in horrifying sights like beheaded victims hanging from bridges.
At least 400 people have died in battles and massacres in Ecuadorian prisons since February 2021 as a result of tensions between rival drug gangs.
According to the most recent United Nations statistics, Ecuador was responsible for 6.5 percent of all the cocaine that was seized globally in 2020.
Furthermore, the 18 million-strong country's murder rate, which was 14 killings per 100,000 people in 2017, nearly doubled from 2020 levels in 2017.
(With inputs from agencies)