Ecuador’s youngest mayor, Brigitte García, and her press officer were found dead in a car in San Vicente, where she won the mayoral election last year.

According to media reports, no arrests have been made and the motive is not clear.

García is the latest politician to be killed in the Andean country, which was hit by violence linked to drug gangs.

The coastal region has been particularly hit by violence linked to drug smugglers.

The rise of such gangs led President Daniel Noboa to declare a two-month-long state of emergency to combat armed groups.