Gangs blamed for 11 deaths in rural El Salvador

Policemen and soldiers participate in a search operation for eight electrical power company workers and three farmers who had gone missing, in the village of Joya de Ceren in San Juan Opico, El Salvador March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - Eight workers from an electric company and three other people were found dead on Thursday in a rural part of El Salvador and authorities said they were likely killed by gang members.

The small, impoverished Central American state ranks among the world's most murderous countries, with criminal gangs controlling chunks of territory and threatening intruders with death.