Ecuador shooting: 8 dead, 3 injured in Santa Lucia Night Club attack; Officials increased violence for organized crime turf wars

Eight people were killed and three others were injured when gunmen set fire outside a nightclub in South -West Ecuador on Sunday, marking the latest incident in the ongoing wave of violence of the country.The shooting took place in the rural area of Santa Lucia in Guas province, which is considered one of the most dangerous areas of Ecuador. Police said the victims involved seven people between the ages of 20 to 40, who were killed on the spot and suffering from injuries in a hospital.According to officials, heavy armed attackers arrived in motorcycles and two vehicles. The motive remains unclear.The incident occurred exactly two days after another deadly attack, when gunmen attacked a boat in the L Oro province on the south -west coast, killing four people. Many other people remain missing after explosive launch on the ship.Ecuador has experienced a sharp increase in violence in recent months, especially in the coastal provinces of Ero, Guayas, Manbi and Los Rios – all currently under emergency. Officials have credited bloodshed for turf wars among organized crime groups associated with transnational drug cartel, which has expanded operations with Prashant, which is an important trafficking route for Central America, United States and Europe.More than 4,600 people have been killed in the 18 million country so far this year. Last year saw around 7,000 murders, falling over 8,000 in 2023 – the highest on record.