A television studio in Ecuador witnessed some tense moments when masked gunmen broke into it and threatened terrified staff.

Employees were forced onto the floor during the broadcast by the public television channel TC in the city of Guayaquil before the live feed cut out, reported BBC.

The attackers were later seen leaving the studio.

A 60-day state of emergency began in Ecuador on Monday after a notorious gangster vanished from his prison cell, BBC reported.

It is unclear whether the incident at the TV studio in Guayaquil was related to the disappearance from a prison in the same city of the boss of the Choneros gang, Adolfo Macías Villamar, or Fito as he is better known, the British news channel reported.

Police said several people have been arrested in connected with the incident.

Ecuador Police posted on X: "As a result of the intervention in @tctelevision #GYE, our police units have so far managed to arrest several subjects and evidence linked to the crime."

In Peru, the government directed the deployment of the police force to the border to prevent any instability from crossing into the country.

US Embassy in Ecuador said in a statement: "The United States Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador are monitoring reports of criminal activity and other threats to safety and security of U.S. citizens in Ecuador."