Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency in Guayaquil, the country’s industrial capital, after a massive explosion killed at least five people. The local government blamed organized crime for the case.
According to the Ecuadorian authorities, the incident happened in Cristo del Consuelo and left 20 people injured, eight houses and two vehicles destroyed. Police took to social media to warn that it was a “large explosion” but gave no further details.
Ecuadorian Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo blamed organized crime for the blast in a message on social media. “Organized crime mercenaries who have long drugged the economy are now attacking with explosives. This is a declaration of war on the state,” he said.
The newspaper El Universo specified that the measure taken by the Ecuadorian President will last at least 30 days and is the third similar measure that Lasso has imposed on Guayaquil since he took office.
With the declaration of the state of emergency, Lasso intends to allow the police and army to step in to fight the crime that is operating in Guayaquil.
Ecuador has faced a major crime wave in recent years, mainly due to drug trafficking. The country borders Colombia and Peru, some of the largest cocaine producers in the world.
“Either we join forces to face this, or the price to society will be even greater,” the Ecuadorian minister added in his message.