Four Killed, Dozens Injured in Ecuador Prison Clash Amid Rising Gang Violence
At least four inmates have been killed and more than 30 others injured in a violent clash that erupted early Sunday at a prison in Machala, a city in southwestern Ecuador. Authorities said the incident, which involved gunfire and explosives, marks the latest in a string of deadly confrontations within the country’s overcrowded and gang-controlled prison system.
According to Ecuador’s National Service for Comprehensive Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI), the unrest began around 3:00 a.m. local time (0800 GMT). Residents living near the prison reported hearing intense gunfire, loud explosions, and cries for help throughout the night as security forces struggled to regain control of the facility.
SNAI confirmed in a statement that four inmates were killed in the melee, while at least 33 prisoners and one police officer sustained injuries. Emergency services and security reinforcements were later deployed to the area, and authorities said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the violence.
Ecuador’s prisons have in recent years become epicenters of deadly conflict between powerful criminal organizations vying for dominance over drug-trafficking routes and operations. The penitentiary system, designed for around 30,000 inmates but housing far more, has witnessed repeated massacres, riots, and gang takeovers.
More than 500 inmates have died in prison-related violence since 2021, reflecting Ecuador’s deepening security crisis. The government has repeatedly pledged reforms and increased military presence in correctional facilities, but gang rivalries and widespread corruption among prison officials have hampered efforts to restore order.
President Daniel Noboa’s administration, which has declared states of emergency in several provinces this year, has yet to release an official statement on Sunday’s clash.
Security analysts warn that without comprehensive reforms to dismantle the influence of criminal groups inside prisons, Ecuador’s penitentiaries will remain flashpoints of violence in the country’s ongoing war against organized crime.
