Machala, Ecuador – At least 31 inmates are dead following a violent outbreak at a prison in the coastal city of Machala, southwestern Ecuador. Dozens more were injured in the latest episode of escalating violence plaguing the South American nation’s penal system.
According to a statement released by Ecuador’s prison authority, 27 inmates were found dead on Sunday, reportedly due to asphyxiation and “instant death by hanging.” The statement, released on social media, provided no further details surrounding the circumstances of these deaths, leaving unclear whether they were killed by other inmates.
The grim discovery came hours after armed riots erupted within the prison walls, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to 33 others, including a police officer. Prison authorities confirmed that special police forces were deployed to regain control of the facility following the disturbances.
Residents in the vicinity reported hearing gunfire, explosions, and cries for help emanating from inside the prison. Concerned family members of inmates gathered outside the facility seeking information.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the deceased or provide a definitive explanation for the outbreak of violence. However, it is believed the unrest is linked to plans to transfer certain inmates to a new high-security prison, constructed by the government of President Daniel Noboa in a different province, scheduled to open later this month.
This deadly incident in Machala marks the latest wave of turmoil within Ecuador’s prisons, which have increasingly become operational hubs for rival drug trafficking gangs. Over 500 inmates have been killed in violence stemming from power struggles between groups vying for control of the lucrative trade. In late September, clashes within the same Machala prison resulted in the deaths of 13 inmates and one prison official.
