The leader of a crime gang, which is suspected of murdering the country's presidential candidate, has disappeared from an Ecuadorian prison.

A state of emergency has been declared in the country for two months.

Jose Adolfo Macias, alias “Fito,” had been in prison for 12 years and led the powerful crime gang  Los Choneros (People from the City of Chone) from prison.

His prison cell is in the part of the prison in Guayaquil that, in theory, should have been especially carefully guarded.

The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has declared a state of emergency for 60 days, which envisions, in particular, a temporary ban on public gatherings and a curfew.

According to President Noboa, this state of emergency will enable the military and the police to directly oversee the country's prisons.