5 killed, 1 injured in attack on fishing boat off southern Ecuador

QUITO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Five crew members were killed and another was injured when gunmen attacked a fishing boat off Ecuador's southern coast early Thursday, local media reported citing police sources.

The attack occurred around 2 a.m. local time near Puerto Bolivar in El Oro province. The boat had departed from Posorja, a coastal community in the Guayaquil area.

According to preliminary reports, armed men in several small boats intercepted the vessel while its crew members were resting. The attackers boarded the fishing boat and opened fire.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, but the motive behind the incident has not yet been determined.

The vessel returned to Posorja after the shooting, where forensic officers recovered the bodies.

El Oro is under a 60-day state of emergency declared by the government on Sept. 15 in response to rising criminal violence.  ■