Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Ecuador’s new state of exception applies for 60 days in ten provinces and three cantons. There is no curfew for now, but the decree allows temporary limits on home and correspondence protections while security forces operate in the covered areas.
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.
The Infrastructure and Transport Ministry announced an emergency declaration for the Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje road after landslides closed the section between kilometer 76 and 105. Authorities estimate about 200,000 cubic meters of material on the roadway.
A frontal crash between a pickup truck and a cargo truck near the Zapotal bridge left 12 people dead on June 14. ECU 911 said the crash happened at about 04:14 on the Guayaquil-Santa Elena highway.
Authorities detained 16 people on San Cristobal after an operation near the Muelle de los Marinos. Police reported the seizure of boats, outboard motors, mobile phones and electronic devices in a fuel-trafficking investigation.
Ecuador recorded 2,539 disappearance reports between January and April 2026, up 2.1% from the same period of 2025. Adolescents accounted for 1,289 cases, making them the largest reported age group.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near Macara, Loja, at 01:35 on June 13. The quake was felt in Loja, Azuay and El Oro, but national risk officials had not reported injuries or significant structural damage by the close of the source report.
An explosive attack damaged the Arcom building in central Machala on the night of June 12. The Environment and Energy Ministry said no injuries were reported and linked the attack to retaliation after 88 illegal-mining operations in El Oro.
A heavy downpour on Thursday, June 11, flooded streets in Ibarra and Atuntaqui, with water rising above half a meter in some areas. In Cotacachi, farmers in Peribuela reported damaged corn and fruit crops after the storm and hail.
Guayaquil recorded 300 road deaths in 2025, a 15% increase from 2024, and 75% of those killed were pedestrians or motorcyclists. ATM data also tied 208 of the 300 deaths to speeding-related incidents.
Ecuador's customs service found 21 hidden iPhones in luggage from a passenger arriving from Panama at Guayaquil's airport. In a separate Quito airport case, customs also retained about 6,000 dental medical-device items including implants, ligatures and resins.
