Overview
- The blaze began in the Muelle Pesquero artisanal area of the Port of Manta and spread rapidly across the pier, with videos showing large flames, explosions and thick black smoke.
- Emergency teams from the Bomberos, ECU 911 and the Secretaría Nacional de Gestión de Riesgos contained the fire and restricted access while two people with burn injuries were taken to hospitals for treatment.
- Initial reports of eight damaged boats were revised to 35 affected vessels after on‑site counts and assessments by authorities.
- The Policía Nacional said in a public communiqué that welding work on a boat likely ignited the fire and that investigators currently rule out an attack by organized crime, though the probe and damage evaluations remain open.
- Manta is a major Pacific fishing and tuna port long linked in local reporting to drug routes and extortion, so officials and fishing groups are watching how the final damage assessment, compensation and safety measures will affect livelihoods and port operations.