An explosion at a food establishment on Avenida Casuarina, also known as Entrada de la 8, in northwestern Guayaquil, Ecuador, left at least 22 people affected on the morning of Sunday, August 23, according to a report from the emergency response agency ECU911 issued as of 4:30 p.m.
The emergency prompted a response from multiple institutions, which provided medical care to the injured and support to the families affected by the blast.
Injuries and hospital treatment
Fourteen injured people were treated at Monte Sinaí General Hospital, the hospital said. Six of the patients are minors, who remained in the pediatric unit under medical supervision.
According to a preliminary medical report, three patients were already discharged after receiving sutures for minor wounds and having their condition confirmed as stable.
Three other adults remained under observation due to bruises and abrasions. Two of the injured suffered severe burns and were being treated by the critical care team, with their prognosis described as guarded.
The hospital report specified that the six minors remained under strict medical supervision in the pediatric area.
Cause of the explosion and emergency response
ECU911 received the alert about the explosion at 8:06 a.m. on Sunday. The agency coordinated the mobilization of units from the Fire Department, the National Police and the Transit and Mobility Agency (ATM).
Cameras belonging to the municipal security agency Segura EP captured the moment of the blast. The force of the explosion shattered windows and hurled pieces of the building's facade into the street.
ECU911 said the incident was related to the explosion of a gas tank, while the Fire Department said the blast may have originated from a buildup of gases inside the establishment.
Two firefighting units responded to the scene to control the emergency and rule out further leaks. During the response, firefighters removed several gas cylinders that were inside the premises.
The explosion also caused significant damage to the business's facade, with parts of the structure scattered across the sidewalk and several windows destroyed.
Humanitarian aid activated for affected families
As care for the injured continued, Ecuador's national government announced it was activating aid for the affected families. The Ministry of Labor and Human Development said in a preliminary report that ten families were affected.
By order of the Minister of Labor and Human Development, Cynthia Gellibert, technical teams were deployed both to the area where the explosion occurred and to Monte Sinaí General Hospital.
The ministry said it was working alongside the National Risk Management Secretariat to support the affected people and their relatives, assess household needs and activate the corresponding social protection mechanisms.
The ministry said it would continue its support while the relevant authorities assess the consequences of the explosion and coordinate the necessary actions.
As part of this response, humanitarian aid was set to be delivered to the affected families on Monday, August 24, with the aim of addressing their most urgent needs during the initial stages of recovery.
