On Sunday, February 8, a tourist bus caught fire while traveling on the Santa Elena-Guayaquil route at kilometer 44. The incident occurred around 18:00, and witnesses reported a significant column of smoke coming from the bus due to combustion. This alarming sight prompted concern among other motorists in the area.

Emergency response was quickly coordinated by ECU911, which dispatched teams to the scene. Firefighters from Guayaquil arrived promptly to control the flames, which had engulfed much of the bus's body and interior. Their efforts prevented further damage, but the incident highlighted the potential dangers of bus travel in the region.

As a result of the fire, one lane of the road was temporarily blocked, causing traffic congestion near the La Gloria estate close to the incident location. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire to ensure passenger safety in the future, while the prompt response of emergency services helped avoid any injuries from this unfortunate event.