Armed gunmen have stormed a live Ecuador TV set, hikajing the studio and holding several hosts hostage.
The incident occurred at Ecuador's TC television station in Guayaquil.
Journalists could be heard yelling "they want to kill us all" as they cowered in fear.
The gunmen told staff to lie down on the floor, whilst one gunman reportedly said: "We are on the air so that they know that we do not play with the mafia."
Journalists could be heard yelling 'they want to kill us all'
TwitterNoises believed to be gunshots can be heard in the video.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has since issued a statement declaring armed conflict within the country.
The horrifying ordeal began at around 2.00pm local time today and half an hour later, a series of explosions could be heard blaring out from the studio.
One of the hooded figures reportedly left a stick of dynamite in the reception area.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
"The country is kidnapped, this has already gone to another level," wrote the user who posted the footage online.
"When it hurts me that this very privileged country reaches this level," they said in Spanish.
The hijacking comes amid a series of attacks sweeping the nation.
Explosions have been felt across the country, and at least seven police officers have been abducted.
Adolfo Macias escaped from prison on Sunday
Ecuadorean Armed Forces
A day earlier, Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency after the country's most powerful gang leader escaped prison.
Adolfo Macias - also known as Fito, was serving a 34-year sentence in La Regional prison for drug trafficking and murder.
The leader of the Los Choneros gang escaped from his prison cell on Sunday.
The gang is considered heavily responsible for the rise of violence in the country which led to the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio.
