Tragedy Strikes Ecuador Again: Gunmen Kill 17 in Bar Shooting

A tragic incident at La Clínica bar in El Empalme has left the nation grappling with an unprecedented wave of violence linked to drug trafficking.

A shocking mass shooting in Ecuador has claimed the lives of 17 individuals, including a 12-year-old boy, following a horrific attack at La Clínica bar in El Empalme on Sunday night. This incident is part of a continuing trend of violence that has engulfed the country due to escalating drug-related conflicts.

Ecuador's attorney general's office reported that 14 others were injured when gunmen, traveling in two pickup trucks, indiscriminately opened fire with pistols and rifles. The police, led by Major Oscar Valencia, recounted how this violence continued even as terrified patrons attempted to flee, leaving a scene marked by chaos and sorrow.

Eyewitnesses revealed that the attackers shouted "active wolves," which may reference a local gang involved in fierce battles over drug trafficking routes in the region. The Guayas province, where this incident occurred, has become a hotspot for rampant violence, as gangs vie for control. Just a week prior, a similar shooting at a bar in Playas resulted in the deaths of nine individuals who were described as "collateral victims."

Since President Daniel Noboa declared a war on organized crime last year, Ecuador has witnessed a severe surge in violence, with a staggering homicide rate of 38 per 100,000 people anticipated for 2024. In a particularly grim statistic, the first five months of 2025 alone have already recorded over 4,000 homicides.

Ecuador continues to struggle with its position as a significant transit point in the global cocaine supply chain, with nearly three-quarters of the world's cocaine production passing through its borders. This ongoing crisis has drawn international scrutiny, exacerbated further by the recent extradition of drug lord 'Fito' to the United States.