ALBAWABA- At least 15 inmates have been killed and 14 injured in a violent clash at Ecuador’s El Litoral prison in Guayaquil, a facility notorious for deadly gang violence.
The Ecuadorean Prison Service (SNAI) reported that the “grave incidents” occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
Authorities confirmed that security forces regained control of the prison and are searching the premises.
Nearby residents reported hearing gunfire early Tuesday, spotting helicopters above the jail, and observing tactical police units arriving at the scene. The identities of those killed and details of the fight have not yet been disclosed, but an investigation is underway.
El Litoral houses members of Ecuador’s most violent gangs, who often continue their criminal operations from within the prison and pose serious threats to prison staff.
The prison has a history of deadly gang clashes; in September 2021, over 120 inmates were killed in a single riot. Just last month, the prison’s director, María Daniela Icaza, was fatally shot after receiving multiple threats, underscoring the risks facing officials amid Ecuador’s ongoing struggle with escalating gang violence.
Once one of Latin America’s safest countries, Ecuador now faces a wave of crime driven by powerful gangs.
