San Lorenzo declares emergency after armed attacks, security crisis

San Lorenzo del Pailón, a northern canton in Ecuador's Esmeraldas province, is now under a state of emergency following a significant increase in armed attacks and criminal activity. The cantonal Emergency Operations Committee (COE) issued the declaration, which aims to strengthen the response of local institutions to the escalating violence that has alarmed residents.

The emergency measure, signed by Mayor Gustavo Samaniego, will initially last for 60 days but can be extended if security conditions do not improve. The COE's decision was prompted by a rise in violent incidents in recent weeks, which the resolution states pose a threat to citizens' lives, disrupt public order, and jeopardize the provision of essential services.

Recent events that spurred the declaration include an armed assault near an educational institution on Friday, July 17, which left two people dead and three injured. The resolution also references an attack on a San Lorenzo municipal official on July 3, which injured a police officer and a civilian.

With the emergency declaration, all COE member entities are mandated to activate their contingency plans and coordinate actions with law enforcement. This strategy involves collaboration between the National Police, Armed Forces, National Risk Management Secretariat, Esmeraldas Governorate, Ministries of Interior, Public Health, and Education, ECU911, Firefighters, the Ecuadorian Red Cross, and essential service providers. A Technical Security Committee has also been activated to coordinate crisis response and enhance citizen protection.