Tragedy in Guayas: Attack on Ecuador Bar Leaves 17 Dead

An armed assault on a bar in Ecuador's Guayas province claimed 17 lives and injured 11 others, according to the country's attorney general's office. The tragic incident has sparked an investigation as authorities collected more than 40 pieces of ballistic evidence at the scene.

The attack occurred in El Empalme, located 160 km north of Guayaquil, an area notorious for violence due to organized crime groups competing for control over lucrative drug-smuggling routes. Images from local media depicted a grim scene, with bodies strewn on the ground.

Despite last year's declaration of an 'internal armed conflict' by President Daniel Noboa, violent deaths in Guayas surged by 47% in the first half of 2025. The Ecuadorian government has introduced reforms to tackle armed groups and dismantle drug-trafficking networks fueling these conflicts.