La Hora: Ecuador Recorded 94 Massacre Events in the First Quarter of 2026

A new La Hora report frames Ecuador's violence problem as a shift from prisons into public spaces.

Citing the Observatorio Ecuatoriano de Crimen Organizado, La Hora reports that Ecuador recorded 262 massacre events in 2025, causing 999 deaths.

In the first quarter of 2026, the same records counted 94 massacre events and 331 deaths.

What Changed

Byron Villagomez, technical leader of the observatory, told La Hora that the pattern has shifted from massacres in prisons between 2021 and 2023 toward the streets and the general population.

The report says these events often occur in public places or social, family and friend gatherings, and are carried out with firearms.

La Hora also reports that most victims are men, including young people and adolescents between 15 and 35.

What Specialists Say

Criminologist Daniela Valarezo told La Hora that one major cause is fragmentation among criminal groups.

She also said about 20% of massacre victims had criminal records, while the remaining 80% had no links to organized criminal groups.

Security specialist Cristian Ordonez told La Hora that violence has radicalized because of the advance of organized crime and because criminal economies now have execution doctrines and logistical operations.

What This Means For Expats

For foreign residents, this is not a reason to treat every public place as equally dangerous. It is a reminder to take local security context seriously, especially in areas where organized-crime violence is active.

For emergencies, ECU 911 says emergency institutions provide service through 9-1-1, and that calls can be made from any fixed or mobile phone at no cost, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Sources: La Hora, ECU 911