QUITO, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed Sunday in a traffic accident on a road in the southwestern Ecuadorian province of Guayas, said local media.

The accident occurred early Sunday morning on the Balzar-El Empalme road, where a pick-up truck and a trailer collided, according to a report released by the Integrated Security Service ECU 911.

Emergency response was immediately coordinated among traffic personnel, firefighters, the Ministry of Health and the National Police after the alert was received, said the service on social media platform X.

Authorities are investigating the causes of the collision while calling on drivers to drive carefully and respect traffic signs.

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in Ecuador, mainly due to speeding and inexperienced drivers on the road, according to authorities. ■