At least six people were killed and 11 others wounded in an armed attack in the port city of Manta, in the coastal province of Manabí, during New Year’s celebrations. Armed individuals opened fire on a family gathering, just three days after a similar incident in Puerto López claimed six lives, including that of a newborn baby. Authorities extended the state of emergency in Manabí and eight other provinces due to escalating violence and rising homicide rates. The Organized Crime Observatory warns that violent deaths are likely to increase further in 2026.

#teleSUREnglish #Ecuador #Manta #StateOfEmergency #OrganizedCrime #Manabi #PublicSafety