Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
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Ecuador recorded 3,485 violent deaths from January through May 2026, while Quito’s recent alerts have centered more on explosives, intimidation, and microtrafficking.
Ecuador’s police say violent deaths have fallen 11 percent so far in 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, with the reported homicide rate moving from 25.5 to 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Ecuador’s Fiscalía issued an Alerta Emilia for three minors last seen in Conocoto on June 27. The case is a reminder to use official channels when sharing missing-person alerts.
Ronald Javier Macias Villamar, known as alias Javi and identified as the brother of Los Choneros leader alias Fito, was captured in Colombia. Ecuadorian officials say the operation involved the National Police, Armed Forces, National Intelligence Center and Colombian authorities.
Ecuador has placed 17 provinces, 143 cantons and 491 parishes under a preventive yellow alert for a possible El Nino event. Local governments have until June 23 to submit action plans, but only three municipalities had filed plans as of June 15.
Ecuador added 10 substances to its controlled list after warnings about synthetic-drug risks and abuse potential. The change also comes with a plan to create 24 provincial committees to coordinate drug policy in the territories.
El Universo reports the government proposed transit-law reforms that would give the National Police control over the national road network and strengthen access to toll-road images and cantonal transit-agency information.
El Universo reports ECU911 and the Armed Forces have removed around 1,000 irregularly installed cameras across Ecuador, including 95 in Guayaquil and recent removals in Fertisa and the Trinitaria port zone.
Primicias reports Ecuador's Judicial Council documented violent events against judicial workers, users and facilities from January 2024 through May 2026. The report includes 142 threats, 11 attacks against officials and three confirmed infrastructure attacks.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 55 km east of Santa Elena early Saturday morning, April 4. The tremor was felt across six provinces including Guayas, but caused no structural damage, injuries, or tsunami alert. Here's what happened and what expats on the coast should know.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Ecuador's coast near Santa Elena and Guayas early Saturday morning, April 4. The quake was felt across 6 provinces but caused no damage, injuries, or tsunami alert. It follows a 4.1 magnitude tremor near Loja on April 2.
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck near the Ecuador-Peru border at 3:30 AM on April 2, with an epicenter 44.91 km from Macara in Loja province at a depth of 63 km. No damage or injuries have been reported.
