Seventeen Inmates Killed In Ecuador's Latest Prison Riot

At least 17 prisoners were killed in a violent riot at a jail in the coastal city of Esmeraldas, Ecuadorian authorities confirmed on Thursday. Police said the victims' bodies were found inside prison cells.

Images circulating on social media showed bloodied inmates lying on the floor, with reports indicating that two of the victims had been decapitated. Officials described the violence as one of the most gruesome incidents in recent months.

This marks the second deadly outbreak in Ecuador's prisons within a week. Earlier, a clash between rival gangs in Machala prison left 14 dead and another 14 injured.

Ecuador has faced an escalating wave of prison violence in recent years, driven largely by powerful criminal groups competing for dominance inside overcrowded facilities.

In 2021, more than 100 inmates were killed in a riot in Guayaquil, the deadliest prison massacre in the nation's history. Since then, nearly 500 prisoners have died in similar clashes, often in particularly brutal ways.

Observers say the repeated violence underscores the government's inability to rein in gang control within the penal system. Rights groups are calling for urgent reforms and stronger measures to protect inmates.

Analysts warn that Ecuador's prison crisis reflects a broader breakdown in law and order, with organized crime networks spreading their influence beyond prison walls and fueling wider insecurity across the country.

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