# Violence and homicide increases in Latin America

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/violence-and-homicide-increases-in-latin-america
> Updated: 2026-08-09T20:39:09.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 2.

In early August, a series of violent incidents and homicides were reported across Latin America, notably in Ecuador, Bolivia, Costa Rica, and Peru. In Ecuador, specific killings included a municipal official in Manta and a doctor in Guayaquil.

By August 8, reports indicated an escalation of severe violence in Ecuador and Mexico. In Ecuador, authorities discovered eight bodies in mass graves near an illegal mine in the Pucará sector, with victims showing signs of machete wounds. Further incidents in the Guayas region involved the removal of deceased individuals from a crime scene by unidentified persons before official identification could occur. Concurrently, Ecuadorian police announced the capture of an individual identified as a primary arms supplier for the Chone Killers criminal organization. In Mexico, two men were found shot to death in Puebla, an incident being investigated as a potential settlement of accounts.

On August 9, further details emerged regarding the discovery in the Pucará municipality of Azuay. Authorities found eight bodies—seven men and one woman—buried in two clandestine pits within an illegal gold and copper mine. The victims, who had been missing since August 7, showed signs of extreme violence, including dismemberment and decapitation, likely inflicted with machetes. Investigators recovered two incinerated vehicles at the scene and believe the victims had been dead for approximately 48 hours. This massacre underscores the growing influence of organized crime in Ecuador’s illegal mining sector as groups compete for control over illicit mineral resources during the country’s declared state of internal armed conflict.

## Claims

- Eight bodies were found in two clandestine pits in a mining area in Pucará, Azuay. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The victims showed signs of dismemberment and decapitation caused by sharp weapons rather than firearms. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The massacre occurred at an illegal gold and copper mine in the Pucará municipality. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The victims are estimated to have died approximately two days before their bodies were found. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Local residents reported that several people had been missing since Thursday, August 7. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Two vehicles were found incinerated at the scene of the discovery. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Ecuador is currently under a state of internal armed conflict to combat organized crime. (corroborated by 4 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-09: Ecuador: Eight bodies found in illegal mine in Azuay

Eight mutilated bodies were found in two clandestine pits at an illegal mine in Pucará, Azuay, Ecuador. The victims showed signs of decapitation and dismemberment amid rising criminal control of illegal mining.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/puebla-authorities-investigate-two-separate-fatal-attacks

### 2026-08-05: Ecuador and neighboring nations experience spate of killings and violent incidents in early August

Early August saw multiple killings in Ecuador—including a municipal official, a doctor and a key witness—plus fatal shootings in Bolivia, Costa Rica and Peru, and a deadly traffic accident in Ecuador.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/multiple-fatal-shootings-hit-southern-guayaquil-in-early-august

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Cite as: Violence and homicide increases in Latin America. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/violence-and-homicide-increases-in-latin-america