Eight people killed and three injured in Ecuador nightclub shooting
Eight people have been killed and three injured in a shooting at a nightclub in Ecuador.
Police in the country say they were called to the nightclub in Santa Lucía in the early hours of August 10th, where seven people had already sadly died upon their arrival, with another later passing away in hospital.
The incident has come as a major shock to those in the area of the nightclub, which is situated in a small town on the coast of the province of Guayas. However, the state has been placed under a state of emergency due to a recent spate of violence.
According to local news outlets and AFP, the owner of the nightclub, who is also the brother of Santa Lucía’s mayor Ubaldo Urquizo, was among those who were killed in the shooting.
A post on the Facebook page for the local government paid tribute to the family. The statement reads: “We join with respect and solidarity with their grief, lifting our prayers that they may find strength and comfort during this difficult time”.
At this time, the police stated that they are still investigating the potential motive for the incident, which remains unclear.
It comes at the height of a recent flare-up of violent tensions throughout the Guayas area, with various incidents causing many tragic fatalities. Most recently, 17 people were killed in a bar on July 27th, while a further nine also died in a shooting at a pool hall on July 19th.
Per official figures in Ecuador, rates of violence have seen an exponential increase in recent times, with 4,051 homicides having been recorded in the period of January to May 2025 alone.
