Explosions rocked Ecuador on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, as two separate blasts targeted bridges in the country’s southern regions, just hours after a deadly car bomb detonated outside a shopping mall in Guayaquil. The incidents, which officials have called acts of terrorism, are the latest in a troubling wave of violence that has swept across the once-peaceful South American nation, leaving citizens and authorities on high alert.
According to The Associated Press, the two bridge explosions occurred less than 24 hours after a vehicle exploded in the port city of Guayaquil, killing one person and injuring several others. The first blast damaged a bridge in the city of Naranjal, located about 290 kilometers southwest of Quito, Ecuador’s capital. A police report confirmed that the structure sustained significant damage from the suspected detonation. The second explosion struck a bridge connecting the provinces of Azuay and El Oro, with emergency services warning of a possible collapse and closing the route. Images from local media depicted a scene of chaos: rubble and twisted metal littered the bridge, while at least two buses suffered shattered windscreens.
Transport Minister Roberto Luque took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the attacks, describing the placement of explosives on bridges as acts of “terrorism” designed “to block traffic.” He stressed that, while no casualties were reported from the bridge blasts, roads leading to the affected areas remain closed as authorities assess the full extent of the damage. Marcela Aguinaga, prefect of Guayas province where Naranjal is located, also denounced the incident on X, calling it a “criminal act.”
Interior Minister John Reimberg wasted no time in pointing fingers at those he believed responsible. He accused Los Lobos, one of Ecuador’s largest criminal gangs and a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, of orchestrating the attacks. Reimberg also implicated dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), specifically ex-members known as the Oliver Sinisterra Front, who are known to have ties with Los Lobos. According to Reimberg, “The attacks came after security operations destroyed illegal mining operations in northern Ecuador and detained ex-FARC members.”
While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the explosions, the timing and targets suggest a calculated response to recent government crackdowns. The government of President Daniel Noboa has been ramping up efforts to dismantle illegal mining activities and disrupt the operations of powerful criminal organizations. These groups, many of which have shifted their drug-smuggling routes from heavily militarized countries like Colombia to Ecuador, have responded with increasing violence, seeking to destabilize the government and intimidate the public.
The United States State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs quickly condemned the attacks, characterizing them as “brazen terrorist attacks against the Ecuadorian people.” In a statement posted on X, the bureau declared, “We remain committed to the fight to eradicate organized crime and stand ready to support Ecuador in holding those responsible to account.”
The Attorney General’s Office in Ecuador has launched a full investigation into the blasts, and the government has offered a reward for any information leading to the identification and capture of those responsible. This move comes as authorities attempt to reassure a nation rattled by a surge of criminal violence that has, since early 2021, included multiple car bomb attacks, prison riots, and targeted killings.
The explosions on Wednesday follow a string of violent incidents that have left Ecuadorians fearful for their safety. In March 2025, a vehicle exploded outside the country’s largest and most dangerous prison on the outskirts of Guayaquil, killing a prison guard. The incident echoed previous attacks in 2023, when several car bombs detonated in urban areas as part of a broader campaign of intimidation by criminal gangs. These groups, emboldened by lucrative drug trafficking opportunities and weakened state institutions, have turned Ecuador into a battleground for control over smuggling routes and illicit mining operations.
President Daniel Noboa, addressing the nation from Guayaquil on Wednesday, did not mince words about the threat posed by organized crime. “Criminal groups are attempting to destabilize the government,” he said, vowing that Ecuador “cannot back down before people who want to terrorize Ecuadorian families.” His administration has faced mounting pressure to restore order and security, particularly after high-profile incidents like the deadly car bomb outside the Guayaquil shopping mall and repeated prison riots that have claimed dozens of lives.
Despite the government’s efforts, the scale and coordination of Wednesday’s attacks have raised fresh concerns about the reach and resilience of Ecuador’s criminal networks. The bridge explosions, in particular, appear to have been designed not only to cause physical damage but also to disrupt transportation and instill fear among the population. By targeting critical infrastructure, the perpetrators sent a clear message: they are willing and able to strike at the heart of Ecuador’s public life.
Observers note that the ongoing violence marks a dramatic shift for Ecuador, which until recently was considered one of the region’s most peaceful countries. The influx of drug trafficking organizations, displaced by intensified security operations in neighboring Colombia, has transformed Ecuador into a key transit point for narcotics bound for North America and Europe. This shift has brought with it a surge in gang-related violence, corruption, and attacks on law enforcement and government officials.
Security analysts warn that the current wave of violence is unlikely to subside without sustained and coordinated action. The destruction of illegal mining operations and the detention of ex-FARC members may have prompted immediate retaliation, but experts argue that deeper reforms are needed to address the root causes of organized crime. These include strengthening the judiciary, improving police capabilities, and investing in social programs to offer alternatives to those vulnerable to recruitment by gangs.
Meanwhile, Ecuadorians are left grappling with the reality of a country under siege. The closure of major roads and the visible scars left by the explosions serve as daily reminders of the ongoing conflict between the state and powerful criminal organizations. As investigations continue and authorities hunt for those responsible, many are left wondering how long it will take for peace—and a sense of normalcy—to return to their streets.
For now, the government’s message is one of resilience and determination. But as the dust settles on the latest attacks, the challenge of restoring security and trust looms larger than ever for Ecuador’s leaders and its people.
