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Key Points

Ecuador's government has extended the state of emergency in four coastal provinces for another 30 days. The measure suspends constitutional protections against home searches and privacy rights. This comes as the country faces escalating violence with over 6,000 crime incidents recorded just in September. The security crisis has also impacted businesses with flower producers reporting blocked access to farms.

Key Points: Ecuador Extends State of Emergency in Four Coastal Provinces

  • Extension applies to Guayas, El Oro, Los Rios and Manabi provinces for 30 days
  • Constitutional rights suspended including home search protections
  • Country recorded 6,210 violent crime incidents in September alone
  • Flower producers report farms surrounded by protesters blocking workers
2 min read

Ecuador extends state of emergency in four coastal provinces as violence surges

President Daniel Noboa extends emergency measures for 30 days in coastal provinces as violent crime surges, suspending constitutional rights amid security crisis.

"serious internal unrest - Ecuadorian authorities"

Quito, Oct 7

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has ordered the extension of the state of emergency in four coastal provinces and one canton for 30 days amid escalating violence linked to organized crime, the government announced.

The extension, issued under Executive Decree 175, applies to the provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Los Rios and Manabi, as well as the canton of Echeandia in the central province of Bolivar, Xinhua news agency reported.

The emergency, initially declared for 60 days in August, was imposed in response to what authorities described as "serious internal unrest."

Under the decree, constitutional protections against home searches and the privacy of correspondence are suspended.

Ecuador has been grappling with a severe security crisis since President Noboa declared an "internal armed conflict" in January 2024. In September alone, the country's emergency service recorded 6,210 violent crime incidents, including robberies, extortion, and drug-related offenses.

The National Association of Flower Producers and Exporters of Ecuador said on X that in the city of Cotacachi, farms were surrounded at dawn by dozens of protesters from rural farming organizations who blocked employees from entering, prevented them from working and forced them under threats to join the strike.

As of Monday, a preliminary estimate from the Chamber of Industries and Production put losses from the strike at more than $70 million -- mainly from lost sales and higher logistics costs -- with the flower, dairy and tourism sectors among the hardest hit.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
$70 million in losses is massive! The flower and dairy industries getting hit hardest reminds me of how farmers in India also suffer during protests. Common people always pay the price 😔
A
Arjun K
Suspending privacy protections is a slippery slope. While I understand the need for security measures, hope this doesn't become permanent. Citizens' rights matter too.
S
Sarah B
6,210 violent crimes in just one month? That's terrifying! Makes me appreciate the relative safety we have in our cities. Hope Ecuador can restore peace soon.
V
Vikram M
Forcing employees to join strikes under threat is completely wrong. Workers should have the freedom to choose whether to protest or work. This isn't democracy.
M
Michael C
The tourism sector getting hit is sad. Ecuador has such beautiful places, but safety concerns will keep visitors away. Hope they find a balanced solution soon.

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