S. Korea raises travel alert for Ecuador over anti-gov't protests
A map of Ecuador, right, reflecting the travel advisory adjustment for some areas is seen in this image, provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
South Korea raised the travel alert for Ecuador, Wednesday, citing growing safety risks from anti-government protests, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.
The "special alert," which is set to go into effect at 3 p.m., covers the entire country except for areas already under existing second-level travel warnings for the Galapagos Islands and level three for the provinces of Guayas, Azuay, Los Rios, Santa Elena, El Oro, Manabi and Esmeraldas, the foreign ministry said.
The ministry urged South Korean nationals to cancel or postpone non-essential travel to the affected regions.
The advisory comes as anti-government demonstrations, organized primarily by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), have entered their third week.
Protesters are opposing President Daniel Noboa's move to eliminate fuel subsidies. Earlier this week, Noboa escaped injury after his car was attacked by a crowd throwing rocks.