Ecuador: 8 Dead in Club Shooting – Violence Escalates

At least eight people were killed and three seriously injured in a shooting at a club in Santa Lucia, Guayas province, Ecuador. Authorities link the incident to the drug cartel wars as Ecuador faces escalating organized crime violence.

Police found 80 shell casings and automatic weapons at the scene. Among the victims is Jorge Urquizo, brother of the city's mayor. The incident occurred days after an attack on a boat near El Oro province, where four people were killed.

Authorities attribute the wave of violence to disputes between organized crime groups linked to transnational drug cartels. Since the beginning of the year, more than 4,600 people have been killed in Ecuador.