A Canadian man living in Ecuador for 18 years said he and his family feel uncertain and unsafe with the rising gang violence in the country.

Geoff Karam told CTV National News: “We really don’t know what the next steps from the government will look like, people in the country have been living since 11 p.m. Curfew, stores are closed, classes are canceled, and most people are staying in their homes."

Karam added: "Everyone in our company is currently working from home, if anyone has to travel, they are the exception, and everyone else is staying home."

In Guayaquil, a group of armed men took over a television station on Tuesday during a live afternoon news broadcast. The group, carrying explosives and rifles, threatened and assaulted staff at TC Network TV station for 15 minutes on air.

No one was killed and 13 suspects were arrested, but the violent broadcast shocked much of the area and sparked a wide government response.

Those held hostage described moments of terror - one cameraman was shot in the leg, and another had his arm broken.

The TV station is 20 minutes from Karam’s home, who said, "With everything that happened the day before yesterday (Tuesday) in the streets, because there were people unfortunately shooting in the streets, there was a man who was struck by a stray bullet unfortunately and died." "He was shot not more than three minutes from my workplace and about 10 minutes from where I reside."

More than 2,300 Canadians are registered in Ecuador. Eighteen of them have contacted Global Affairs Canada in recent days to ask questions, including travel-related issues.

Most Ecuadorians are hiding in their homes as gang violence explodes to control the drug trade in the South American country; shootings, kidnappings, and killings continue while police and armed forces patrol the streets, focusing on drug gangs and gang members after Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared the country is now at war.

Officials said they had arrested nearly 330 people for alleged terrorist acts by Wednesday afternoon, showing a strong response aimed at reassuring the country of 18 million people.

In the past five years, gangs competing for control of the drug trade have taken over nearly a quarter of the country’s prisons.

Noboa vowed to take severe action after his election in November. He declared a state of emergency on Monday after drug lord Adolfo Macías, also known as Vito, escaped from prison, gangs held prison guards and police officers hostage, and videos of executions were circulated online.

Karam, originally from Toronto, said he and his wife discussed leaving the country entirely as crime worsened over the past two years. However, he said it’s not that simple for him.

“You look at someone like me living in Ecuador and say: why doesn’t this person get out of there?” But the truth is my work is here... my wife’s entire family is here,” adding that Ecuador had been a quiet place to live, Ecuador is a wonderful place, but ultimately, security is everything.”

Karam confirmed that he and his family will leave if the violence turns into an all-out war, “but I pray it does not come to that.”