A violent riot at a prison in Machala, a port city in southwest Ecuador, has left 31 inmates dead, according to authorities.
Officials from Ecuador’s national prison agency (SNAI) said that 27 of the victims were found hanged or had died of asphyxiation, while the remaining four died from other causes related to the unrest.
The riot reportedly broke out during a planned transfer of inmates to a new high-security facility. Authorities believe the violence was linked to rival gang conflicts that dominate much of Ecuador’s prison system.
Images and reports from local media show heavily armed police and soldiers surrounding the facility, as smoke rose from parts of the compound.
Ecuador has faced a series of deadly prison riots in recent years, often resulting in dozens of deaths, as gangs tied to drug trafficking fight for control inside overcrowded jails.
President Daniel Noboa has pledged to restore order and improve security, but human-rights groups say the situation remains critical.
An investigation is underway to determine how so many prisoners were hanged and whether prison staff failed to prevent the killi/ngs.
