Ecuador is currently experiencing a wave of violence that has shocked the nation and the world. A country once considered as peaceful, is now ensnared in a fight against the growing power of organized crime.
On January 9th, thirteen gunmen stormed into the studios of the public TV channel TC Televisión in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, and took journalists and other employees hostage during a live newscast. The violence has been linked to the prison escapes of two criminal gang leaders, which led President Daniel Noboa to declare a 60-day state of emergency.
Streets are largely empty as the country reels from an unprecedented day of violence. Masked gunmen stormed a public TV studio during a live broadcast in the city of Guayaquil and bombs were detonated across Ecuador. More than 130 prison staff are being held hostage by inmates in five jails, the country is highly unstable due to the outrageous ongoings in the nation.
A 60-day state of emergency began after a notorious gangster vanished from his prison cell. The government says the violence is a reaction to President Noboa’s plan to build a new high security prison for gang leaders.
The President Noboa indicated that Ecuador would begin to deport foreign prisoners, especially Colombians, to reduce the number of inmates.
