KABUL: In an armed attack on a bar in Al Empalme, in southwestern Ecuador, at least 17 people were killed and 11 others were injured.
According to reports from the French news agency, armed individuals opened fire as they entered the bar.
The Ecuadorian authorities stated that the attackers began shooting unexpectedly, leading to the casualties.
Officials have announced the launch of an investigation into the incident, but the motive behind the attack has not yet been revealed.
The incident occurs amid a tense security situation in the region, which has been deteriorating over the past few months, and is considered one of the latest in a series of violent events.