SAN VICENTE, MANABÍ, ECUADOR – FEBRUARY 9, 2026 Mass shooting occurred in the Manabí province. The attack took place around 2:30 PM and resulted in several dead and wounded. According to preliminary police reports, a group of gunmen opened fire, hitting a large number of people, while the exact number of victims is still being clarified depending on the identification of bodies and the condition of those hospitalized.
The Manabí province has long been one of the most critical areas of Ecuador due to the activities of drug cartels that use the local coast for smuggling narcotics. San Vicente borders the city of Bahía de Caráquez, where Mayor Brigitte García was murdered in the past, illustrating the high level of danger for local residents and government officials. After the incident, security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to determine if it was a settling of accounts between the Los Choneros gang and their rivals.
