Police report that 13 inmates and one prison guard have been killed, with 14 others injured, due to clashes between rival gangs at a prison in Ecuador. This violent incident occurred early Monday morning in Machala, with local residents hearing gunfire and explosions.
Local authorities, led by Police Chief William Calle, have stated that some prisoners managed to escape, although 13 have since been recaptured. The violence is believed to have been instigated by a criminal gang known as Los Lobos Box, although the gang has not publicly commented on the situation.
Preliminary reports suggest that security personnel responded to an alarm from one of the wings of the prison, only to be taken hostage, leading to the death of a guard. Members of Los Lobos Box allegedly attacked rival gang members in a coordinated assault. A significant factor in the escape of some inmates was a hole created in the prison's perimeter wall using explosives, the origin of which remains unknown.
The clash has raised significant concerns regarding prison security in Ecuador, where deadly violent incidents have become increasingly common. Authorities responded to regain control by deploying around 200 police officers and soldiers.
The prison's location in a densely populated area has led residents to demand its relocation to mitigate ongoing conflicts and security issues. Ecuador has seen a surge in organized crime, transforming what was once considered one of the safer countries in Latin America into a battleground for drug trafficking and gang violence.
Earlier this month, the United States designated the Los Lobos and Los Choneros gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, stressing their role in controlling drug trafficking routes through terror and violence. The situation continues to evolve as authorities grapple with the influence of gangs, linked to powerful Mexican drug cartels, on the country's criminal landscape.
