A violent riot at a prison in Machala, Ecuador, resulted in the deaths of four inmates and left over 30 others injured on Sunday, according to officials from the country’s prison oversight agency. This incident highlights the ongoing crisis within Ecuador’s correctional facilities, which have been plagued by violence and overcrowding.
The unrest originated from the planned “reorganization of inmates” into a new maximum-security prison that is set to open in another province. This move has been met with fierce resistance, culminating in the riot. Authorities were able to regain control of the facility, but one police officer was also injured during the chaos. The condition of the injured inmates has not been disclosed.
This incident follows another deadly event at the same facility just two months prior, when 14 inmates were killed in a gang-related dispute. Such violence is becoming increasingly common in Ecuador’s prisons, which are among the deadliest in Latin America. Overcrowding, systemic corruption, and insufficient state control have enabled powerful gangs, often linked to drug trafficking organizations in Colombia and Mexico, to flourish within these institutions.
Since 2021, more than 500 individuals have died in prison riots across Ecuador. The situation escalated last year when a series of coordinated riots led to the hostage-taking of 150 prison guards, underscoring the urgent need for reform in the country’s correctional system.
Ecuadorian officials continue to grapple with the challenges of managing prisons that are overpopulated and under-resourced, while gangs maintain their grip on criminal activities from behind bars. As the new maximum-security facility prepares to open, authorities face the daunting task of ensuring the safety and security of both inmates and staff.
