Ecuador reports double homicide in Loja and fatal house fire in Guayaquil

On May 20, police in the Loja province discovered two bodies in a 400‑meter deep ravine along the old Loja‑Catamayo road. One victim was identified as local Rigoberto Martín Carpio López; the other was a 14‑year‑old from Guayaquil. Authorities suspect a link to local micro‑drug trafficking networks and are investigating the double homicide.

The following day, a structural fire broke out in the Santiaguito Roldós cooperative in southern Guayaquil, killing five members of a family and destroying most of the house. The blaze, which started around 04:30, was intensified by an exploding gas cylinder and the presence of combustible materials. Municipal officials activated emergency assistance, offering psychological support, funeral provisions and housing aid to the victims’ relatives.

Both incidents highlight ongoing safety and crime concerns in Ecuador’s Loja and Guayaquil regions.