4 killed when gunmen attack boat off Ecuador, reports say. More than a dozen believed missing

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QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Dozens of gunmen have attacked a boat off Ecuador’s southwest coast, killing several people after opening fire on its occupants and launching explosives at the vessel, according to local news reports.

The attack occurred Friday evening in the troubled region of El Oro. Extra, a local newspaper, quoted witnesses as saying that about 60 armed men approached the boat, killing at least four people with more than a dozen believed to be missing.

At least two victims have been identified, according to the newspaper.

An official with Ecuador’s navy told The Associated Press that the suspects tried to leave the scene aboard three boats, but were blocked by the coast guard. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity, because he wasn't authorized to talk about the case.

One boat was able to flee, while the occupants of the two other boats jumped into the water and disappeared into the mangroves. No suspects were arrested, the official said, adding that munition was found aboard the two abandoned boats.

Authorities have yet to publicly comment on the attack. It occurred less than 48 hours after the government placed El Oro province under a two-month state of emergency following a surge in violence.

President Daniel Noboa, who was re-elected in May, has pledged to tackle drug trafficking and violent crime.

The South American country of around 18 million people reported a record of around 8,000 killings in 2023. While the number of killings dropped last year to nearly 7,000, violence has again surged, with 4,619 killings reported from January to June, according to the latest data from the Ministry of the Interior.