At least 31 inmates died during violent incidents at Machala prison in El Oro province, Ecuador, on Sunday, with 27 deaths attributed to asphyxiation and four others killed in a separate armed riot that began around 3 a.m. local time.

La Tercera

Independent

At least 31 inmates died during violent incidents at Machala prison in El Oro province, Ecuador, on Sunday, with 27 deaths attributed to asphyxiation and four others killed in a separate armed riot that began around 3 a.m. local time.

The prison violence occurred during plans to reorganize and transfer inmates to a new maximum-security facility in another province, which President Daniel Noboa's government constructed and planned to inaugurate this month.</span

Al Jazeera

Newsmax

The prison violence occurred during plans to reorganize and transfer inmates to a new maximum-security facility in another province, which President Daniel Noboa's government constructed and planned to inaugurate this month.

Local residents reported hearing gunfire, explosions and cries for help from inside the prison walls, while 33 inmates and one police officer sustained injuries during the morning riot before elite tactical units regained control.</span

Breitbart

CBS News

Local residents reported hearing gunfire, explosions and cries for help from inside the prison walls, while 33 inmates and one police officer sustained injuries during the morning riot before elite tactical units regained control.

The Machala prison experienced another deadly incident in September when 14 inmates and a prison official died in what authorities described as gang-related violence, occurring just two months before Sunday's riots.</span

Jyllands-Posten

The Machala prison experienced another deadly incident in September when 14 inmates and a prison official died in what authorities described as gang-related violence, occurring just two months before Sunday's riots.

Ecuador's prison system has become one of Latin America's deadliest due to overcrowding, corruption and weak state control, allowing drug trafficking gangs connected to Colombian and Mexican cartels to proliferate inside facilities.</span

Ecuador's prison system has become one of Latin America's deadliest due to overcrowding, corruption and weak state control, allowing drug trafficking gangs connected to Colombian and Mexican cartels to proliferate inside facilities.

More than 500 inmates have died in Ecuadoran prison riots since 2021, with coordinated uprisings in 2023 resulting in 150 prison guards being taken hostage across multiple facilities throughout the country.</span

More than 500 inmates have died in Ecuadoran prison riots since 2021, with coordinated uprisings in 2023 resulting in 150 prison guards being taken hostage across multiple facilities throughout the country.

31 Inmates Die in Violent Ecuador Prison Riot at Machala

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31 Inmates Die in Violent Ecuador Prison Riot at Machala

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