The city of Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest and most populous city, has been thrown into turmoil as a wave of criminal violence wreaks havoc on its streets. The shocking escalation of crime has prompted the newly elected president, Daniel Noboa, to declare his country in a "state of war."

The once-bustling city of Guayaquil, home to approximately 3 million residents, now resembles a ghost town. Following a series of arson attacks, car bombings, shootings, and prison riots across the country, as many as 15 lives have been claimed. Streets lay eerily quiet, littered with heaps of rubbish as waste collectors, schools, universities, and government offices suspend their operations.

The city's usually congested roads are now virtually empty, and those who do venture out drive at high speeds to minimize their exposure. The majority of shops and businesses remain closed, even outside the imposed nationwide curfew of 11 pm to 5 am. The city is desolate, with hardly a soul to be seen after nightfall.

The violence reached its peak when a heavily armed group stormed the headquarters of TC Televisión, a local television channel, holding journalist José Luis Calderón hostage on live air. The audacious assault prompted President Noboa to declare a state of "internal armed conflict," refusing to give in to the terrorists wreaking havoc on the streets and prisons. Gangsters with links to Mexican drug cartels are reported to be responsible for the chaos, with around 178 guards and workers being held hostage.

Despite the grim situation, authorities have vowed to fight back. During a patrol of Guayaquil's Caraguay seafood market, a navy spokesperson, Marcelo Gutiérrez, assured the citizens that they would not hesitate to protect them, even at the cost of their own lives. The navy claims that the situation in Guayaquil is under control and that the city is gradually returning to normal. However, reporters have observed few signs of security forces on the streets, raising concerns about the efficacy of the response.

The epicenter of this outbreak of violence lies in La Regional, a high-security prison on the outskirts of Guayaquil, where José Adolfo Macías Villamar, the leader of the powerful gang Los Choneros, was being held. Macías, connected to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, mysteriously vanished from his cell, triggering a shocking eruption of bloodshed and chaos. Videos of security officials being murdered, some of dubious authenticity, spread rapidly on social media.

Ecuador, once considered one of South America's most peaceful countries, now faces an unprecedented challenge. The murder rate has soared in recent years due to its connection to the international cocaine smuggling trade. The violence has given rise to vigilante groups armed with machetes and baseball bats, confronting the gangs in the capital, Quito. Storeowners in both Guayaquil and Quito have abandoned their businesses to avoid looting.

President Noboa, who was elected just last October, is determined to neutralize the more than 20 gangs, whom he has labeled as "terrorists." However, concerns have been raised by human rights and security experts, fearing that a severe crackdown may lead to more bloodshed.

As Ecuador finds itself at a breaking point, the call for unity and support for President Noboa's stance grows louder. The country faces an uphill battle in restoring peace and reclaiming its once serene streets from the grips of violence and criminality.