The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, has declared a state of emergency and imposed night curfews in several provinces in response to escalating violence in the central part of the country.
Riots have claimed the lives of at least eight individuals, including Agustin Intriago, the mayor of Manta, who was shot dead on Sunday. An investigation into the murder of the mayor is currently underway. The escalating violence has also resulted in riots in various prisons resulting in the death of 6 inmates and injuries to 11 others, as gangs clashed within the facility.
Prisoners have taken 96 guards as hostages and initiated hunger strikes in 13 prisons across the nation. The state of emergency will span a 60 day period in the targeted regions, with fluctuating curfew times.
