Ecuador has descended into chaos this week after two notorious gang leaders escaped from prison, triggering widespread violence across the country. Armed men have stormed a TV station, kidnapped police officers, and set off explosives in major cities, leaving citizens terrified to leave their homes.
The crisis began on Sunday when Adolfo Macías, leader of the powerful Los Choneros gang, disappeared from a prison in Guayaquil where he was serving a 34-year sentence. Another gang boss, Fabricio Colón Pico, escaped from a different prison a day later. Their brazen prison breaks prompted simultaneous riots in up to six jails, with inmates taking guards hostage.
The unrest soon spilled onto the streets as the gangs ramped up attacks in retaliation for the government’s attempts to crack down on them.
