QUITO, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including two minors, were killed, and a woman was injured in an armed attack early Thursday in the fishing community of Ayangue, a popular tourist destination in Ecuador's western province of Santa Elena, police said.
According to preliminary investigations cited by local media, four hooded men drove to the area, broke into a house and opened fire inside before fleeing.
National police officers and crime scene investigators said 21 pieces of ballistic evidence were found at the scene.
Santa Elena is among the provinces affected by violence linked to organized crime and remains under a state of emergency, which the government extended for another 30 days on Aug. 14 due to serious internal unrest.
Ecuador has been under an "internal armed conflict" since 2024, when President Daniel Noboa declared the measure to step up the fight against criminal groups, which authorities blame for much of the country's surge in violence. ■
