At least 31 inmates have died and many more were injured due to two violent riots that took place in Ecuador’s Machala prison on Sunday, according to local officials.
The country’s prison authority, SNAI, shared updates on the situation through various public statements.
SNAI reported that following an alarm from the prison, a police tactical unit was dispatched to Machala to regain control. Local publications indicated that clashes began around 2:45 a.m. (local time), resulting in four fatalities and over 40 injuries, with several individuals in critical condition. Additionally, one police officer sustained injuries during the disturbances.
A few hours later, SNAI detailed in a separate communication that an additional 27 inmates were found dead, likely from asphyxiation, after another outburst of violence at the same facility. Reports suggested that both incidents stemmed from ongoing conflicts between rival gangs within the prison as authorities strive to relocate high-risk inmates to secure facilities.
In a follow-up statement, officials remarked: “Competent authorities are working to fully establish the facts.”
According to Ecuadorian news, the environment inside the prison was described as “chaotic.” An anonymous investigator expressed, “I’m not quite sure why such an event occurred again.” Forensic teams later arrived to gather evidence and piece together the events leading to the deaths.
For years, Ecuador has grappled with rampant violent gang activity. In light of this, during his initial term, President Daniel Novoa targeted over 20 of the most perilous gangs in the wake of a brutal wave of violence that erupted in January 2024. As he began his second term in May, he vowed to eliminate gang threats in the country.
Novoa has also been seeking closer ties with the United States, particularly in relation to combating drug trafficking. Just last week, he discussed the potential of reinstating a U.S. anti-drug presence in Ecuador with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, following a history of strained military cooperation that ended under former President Rafael Correa’s administration.
On the same day as the prison violence, residents of Machala discovered the dismembered body of a man. Reports suggest that the remains were scattered across six plastic bags at various locations on main roads in the city. At that time, local officials had not identified the victim.
