Ecuadorian fishermen rescued after pirate assault off Puerto López

On the night of July 8 2026, a group of 27 artisanal fishermen from the rural sectors of Las Piñas and Santa Rosa were intercepted by armed assailants, described by the survivors as "pirates of the sea," while waiting at the pier in Puerto López, Manabí. The attackers seized their boats and outboard engines and forced the men out to sea.

The fishermen were later located alive near the coastal community of La Entrada in Santa Elena province. They arrived on shore in the late afternoon; one fisherman, who had been struck during the assault, was taken to Manglaralto Hospital for treatment, while the remaining crew members were unharmed but exhausted. Governor Aurora Valle of Manabí confirmed the rescue and said authorities are working to improve maritime security in the corridor between Manabí and Santa Elena, where piracy has become a persistent threat.