QUITO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed in four armed attacks Sunday night in the cities of Manta and Montecristi in Ecuador's coastal province of Manabi, local media reported Monday.

The shootings occurred between 7:50 p.m. and 10:50 p.m. local time in several neighborhoods, according to reports citing police investigations.

The first attack took place in the Los Artesanos area of Montecristi, where a couple were shot dead while walking on the street. Minutes later, in Manta's 12 de Octubre neighborhood, a man was killed while sitting outdoors. Police have detained a suspect and seized a 9-millimeter magazine.

A third incident occurred in Bellavista, Manta, when an assailant entered a house and shot a man during a family celebration. Neighbors captured the attacker, who was injured.

The deadliest attack was reported at 10:50 p.m. in the Leonidas Proano parish of Montecristi, where gunmen fired from two vehicles at a group of people, killing four and wounding five.

With these incidents, the Manta district, a major port and tourist area, has recorded 51 violent deaths in January 2026, according to official data. ■