National state of emergency in Ecuador

President Daniel Noboa has declared a state of emergency across Ecuador in response to an increase in criminal activity and security incidents following a drug lord’s escape from prison.

Timeline of events

• On 9 January, at least four police officers were kidnapped by armed gangs and explosions were reported in several cities in Ecuador
• At approximately 2pm local time, the headquarters of a television station in Guayaquil was taken over by attackers, attacks having also been reported at the University of Guayaquil
• On 10 January, additional security personnel were deployed to Colombia’s border with Ecuador, particularly in Ipiales, Chiles, Mataje, and Carlosama
• The Chinese Embassy in Quito was temporarily closed until further notice on 10 January
• On 11 January, the US Embassy in Quito and the Consulate General of the US in Guayaquil were also temporarily closed and suspended until 12 January.

Special measures including a night curfew from 11pm–5am local time were introduced in Ecuador in response to the ongoing security crisis. A state of emergency was also declared on Peru’s northern border with Ecuador.

Travel advice

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to the coastal region provinces of:

• Esmeraldas
• Manabí
• Santa Elena
• Guayas
• El Oro
• Los Ríos
• Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas.

This does not apply to airside transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province, including onward or return travel to the Galapagos Islands.