At this time, there are road closures by truckers in the provinces of Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Azuay, Guayas, and other towns.

This morning, official reports stated that only five roads were blocked in Carchi, in the north of the country. However, discontent with the decision grew throughout the day, and other roadblocks have already occurred, and in the city of Cuenca a protest took place this morning outside the Governor’s Office.

One of them is on the Panamericana Sur highway in the Mejia canton, south of Quito, a road that connects Quito with Latacunga, the city to which President Daniel Noboa moved the executive branch amid tensions.

Local media reported that state officials are stuck in traffic, unable to travel to the temporary government headquarters.

After the end of diesel subsidy, the price of a gallon jumped from $1.80 to $2.80, and according to the government, this measure will result in annual savings of $1.1 billion.

Former presidents Lenin Moreno (2017-2021) and Guillermo Lasso (2021-2023) unsuccessfully attempted to end this benefit, but were forced to back down in the face of the largest protests in recent years in the country, both times led by the indigenous movement.

jdt/jha/avr