Ecuador's president declares state of emergency in 9 provinces, 3 municipalities to quell violence

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a new 60-day "state of emergency" in nine provinces and three municipalities as an increase in criminal violence has caused serious internal commotion, local media said on Thursday.

The measure is also applied in the municipality of La Mana in the central province of Cotopaxi, along with the municipalities of Las Naves and Echeandia in the Andean province of Bolivar. The president said the 60-day validity of the decree aims to contain and reduce high-intensity violence, neutralize ongoing or imminent threats, and dismantle criminal structures.