A violent riot at a prison in Ecuador resulted in the deaths of four inmates and injuries to over 30 others on Sunday. The unrest occurred during a planned “reorganization of inmates” as part of preparations to transfer them to a new maximum-security facility in a different province, according to the country’s prison oversight agency.
The incident unfolded at a facility in **Machala**, a coastal city in southwest Ecuador, marking a troubling trend in the nation’s prison system. This riot follows another violent episode at the same facility less than two months prior, where **14 inmates** were killed in clashes attributed to gang disputes.
Corrections officials reported that control of the prison was regained after the riot, but one police officer was also injured in the chaos. The conditions of the injured inmates were not immediately disclosed.
Ecuador’s prisons have become notorious for violence, with overcrowding, corruption, and inadequate state control creating environments conducive to gang activity. These gangs often have ties to drug traffickers from **Colombia** and **Mexico**, and they continue to operate and orchestrate criminal enterprises from behind bars, often using smuggled weapons.
Since 2021, more than **500 individuals** have lost their lives in prison riots across the country. In 2022 alone, a series of coordinated riots in various facilities led to the hostage-taking of **150 prison guards**.
The situation in Ecuador’s prisons raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the current correctional system and the safety of both inmates and prison staff. As authorities work to manage these ongoing issues, the need for reform and improved oversight remains urgent.
