A car bomb detonated in front of the Mall del Sol in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on October 14th, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time, resulting in the death of one taxi driver and injuries to at least two others from the shockwave and flames. The blast, which occurred on Avenida José JoaquÃn Orrantia near the Sheraton Hotel, has been described as a "terrorist attack" by Humberto Plaza, Governor of Guayas. The incident happened during the reporting window of 10/15/2025, 12:35:46 AM to 10/15/2025, 2:06:39 AM UTC, though the explosion itself occurred locally on the evening of October 14th. Emergency responders, including firefighters, police, and medical teams, were dispatched to the scene immediately after the explosion. They worked to secure the area and provide on-site treatment to the wounded. While official reports confirm two injuries from the shockwave and flames, unverified reports suggest one possible additional fatality. The powerful explosion damaged nearby vehicles and caused panic in the busy commercial and hotel district, exacerbating ongoing security concerns in Ecuador. Videos circulating on social media captured the moment a truck caught fire before exploding. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, with authorities treating it as a potential car bomb. This event follows a previous car bomb explosion near the Mall del Sol that occurred between 11:36 PM and 12:35 AM UTC on October 14th-15th, 2025, as reported previously, indicating a pattern of such attacks in the vicinity.
