Violent Clash in Machala Prison Kills 14, Injures Dozens
Rival gangs at Machala's central prison fought with explosives, leaving 13 inmates and a guard dead and injuring dozens.
Violent Riot Erupts at Machala Prison
Authorities in Machala, southwestern Ecuador, are investigating a deadly clash at the Central Prison that killed 13 inmates and one guard and injured 14 others, including two police officers. Inmates reportedly detonated explosives to breach the perimeter wall, enabling some to escape; 13 have since been recaptured.
Police Chief William Calle said members of the Los Lobos Box gang first took a guard hostage and killed him before storming into a wing housing rival inmates. Security forces regained control after deploying 200 police and military personnel.
Nearby residents heard explosions and gunfire overnight, renewing calls to relocate the prison away from the city center. The incident highlights Ecuador's ongoing struggle with gang violence, driven by prison-based criminal networks allied with international drug cartels.
This violent outbreak in Machala underscores the urgent need to reform Ecuador's prison system and curb the power of entrenched criminal gangs.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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