31 Inmates Killed in Ecuador Prison Riot

At least 31 inmates were killed and more than 30 others injured during a violent riot at a prison in Machala, southern Ecuador, prison authorities reported on Monday. The unrest erupted early Sunday morning at the facility in El Oro province, where inmates clashed amid plans to transfer some prisoners to a new maximum-security prison in another province.

The riot began around 3 a.m. local time, with residents nearby reporting sounds of gunfire, explosions, and cries for help. According to Ecuadors National Service of Comprehensive Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI), 27 of the dead were found hanged, succumbing to asphyxiation, while four others died during the armed confrontation. Initial reports from authorities cited only four deaths, but the toll rose after a subsequent flare-up inside the facility. Among the injured were 33 inmates and one police officer, though their conditions were not immediately specified. Forensic teams were deployed to the site to verify details and conduct examinations.

SNAI officials stated that elite police units entered the prison shortly after the disturbance started and regained control within hours. They...