The city's streets are deserted after gangs took prison staff hostage, set off explosions and briefly seized a live television station.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa says his country is “at war” after drug gangs took more than 130 prison guards and other staff hostage and briefly captured a television broadcaster during a live broadcast.
“We are at war and we cannot give in in the face of these terrorist groups,” Noboa told radio station Canela Radio on Wednesday.
The surge in violence began after Noboa declared a state of emergency following the weekend prison escape of Ecuador's most powerful drug lord, Los Choneros gang leader Adolfo Macias.
On Tuesday, Noboa gave the order to “neutralize” criminal gangs after gunmen stormed and opened fire on a television studio and threatened to execute civilians and security forces.
Noboa on Tuesday designated 22 gangs as “terrorist” organizations, making them official military targets.
Soldiers patrol around the Inca Prison in Quito, Ecuador during the state of emergency [Dolores Ochoa/AP Photo]The government said the violence was a response to Noboa's plan to build new high-security prisons for gang leaders. Noboa said the design for two new facilities will be released on Thursday.
“We are making every effort to recover all hostages,” Noboa said, adding that the armed forces had taken over the rescue effort.
“We are doing everything possible and impossible to get her back safe and sound.”
Riots broke out in several prisons, with 125 guards and 14 administrative staff taken hostage, prison authority SNAI said.
Eleven people were released on Tuesday, it said.
Takeover of the television station
In the port city of Guayaquil, attackers wearing balaclavas stormed a state television station on Tuesday and briefly took several journalists and employees hostage on live television.
The attackers also kidnapped several police officers, one of whom was forced to read a statement to Noboa at gunpoint.
“They have declared a state of emergency. We declare police, civilians and soldiers as spoils of war,” read one frightened official.
The statement added that anyone found on the streets after 11 p.m. will be “executed.”
Ecuadorian police said Wednesday that there had been 70 arrests since Monday in response to the violence, including the takeover of the television station.
World leaders and international bodies have condemned the unrest in the South American country.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described the increase in gang activity as a “direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.”
Brian Nichols, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America, said Washington was “extremely concerned” about the events and was in “close contact” with Noboa.
France and Russia advised their citizens not to travel to Ecuador.