Armed Attack at San Vicente Fishing Pier Kills Four, Brings Violence to Manabí's Beach Communities

At least four people were killed and one injured in an armed attack at the artisanal fishing pier in San Vicente, a small coastal canton in Manabí province, on Sunday, February 9, 2026.

Multiple armed men approached the pier and opened fire on a group of fishermen who were working near their boats on the beach. The victims were local fishermen — not the typical profile associated with organized crime targets.

What We Know

• Location: The artisanal fishing pier (muelle artesanal) in San Vicente, directly across the estuary from Bahía de Caráquez
• Victims: Four confirmed dead, one person hospitalized with injuries
• Perpetrators: Multiple armed men who fled the scene; no arrests reported as of publication
• Police response: Provincial police chief Colonel Carlos Ortega confirmed the casualties and said investigations are underway

Some initial reports cited five dead, though the Fiscalía's official count stands at four. The discrepancy may reflect a victim who later died in hospital.

Context: Manabí Under State of Emergency

Manabí has been under a state of emergency since August 2025, extended as part of the current 60-day national declaration covering nine provinces. The province's largest city, Manta, recorded approximately 500 homicides in 2025 — making it one of Ecuador's most dangerous municipalities.

San Vicente, by contrast, had been considered relatively quiet — a sleepy fishing town and gateway to Canoa, a popular beach destination for surfers and tourists. The attack signals that violence is spreading beyond Manabí's urban centres into smaller coastal communities.

Why San Vicente Matters

San Vicente and the adjacent town of Canoa sit on one of Ecuador's most popular beach stretches for both domestic tourists and foreign visitors. The area is:

• A surf destination with hostels, boutique hotels, and a growing digital nomad presence
• Connected to Bahía de Caráquez by bridge — a town that markets itself as an "eco-city"
• Part of the Ruta del Spondylus coastal tourism corridor

What This Means for Expats

• Coastal travel advisory: If you're planning Carnival travel (February 16-17) to Canoa, San Vicente, or Bahía de Caráquez, exercise heightened caution. The attack does not appear to have targeted tourists, but it demonstrates that even smaller beach towns in Manabí are not immune to violence
• The pattern is concerning: Violence in Manabí has progressively moved from Manta outward to Pedernales, Jama, and now San Vicente. Expats living in or visiting coastal communities should stay aware of local security updates
• Avoid the pier area at night and be cautious in isolated beach areas, particularly in communities with active fishing economies where territorial disputes between criminal groups and local operations may be escalating
• For context: The state of emergency in Manabí does not impose a curfew but does authorize military checkpoints. Carry identification at all times

Sources: Primicias, El Diario, Xinhua, LatinUS