At least 13 people killed in latest prison riot in Ecuador

Authorities say they discovered firearms, ammunition, knives and different prohibited objects contained in the jail the place the riot broke out.

Prison in Ecuador
Ecuador's jail company says it's transferring 15 inmates from Bellavista jail, the place the riot befell, to different detention centres so as to defend their security [File: Dolores Ochoa/AP Photo]

Not less than 13 individuals have been killed throughout a riot at a detention centre in Ecuador, the nation’s jail company has mentioned, within the newest incident of lethal jail violence within the Andean nation.

The company mentioned on its Twitter account late on Monday that the riot befell at Bellavista jail in Santo Domingo, 70km (43 miles) southwest of Quito, Ecuador’s capital.

“Sadly, personnel from the centre report to this point that 13 prisoners are lifeless and two are injured,” the company mentioned, including that a last rely will likely be carried out by the legal professional common’s workplace.

Authorities mentioned the state of affairs contained in the jail was underneath management.

Inside Minister Patricio Carrillo later informed a information convention that present info indicated “most” of the victims had been Venezuelan.

“Thus far, 13 our bodies have been recovered and a complete inspection is being carried out contained in the jail,” he mentioned, including it was “fairly possible” extra our bodies can be discovered.

The incident is the most recent bout of lethal violence to grip Ecuador’s jail system, which conservative President Guillermo Lasso’s authorities has blamed on confrontations between rival drug gangs linked to Mexican cartels.

In late April, Lasso declared a state of emergency in three provinces over rising drug-related violence. However lower than two weeks later, on Could 9, one other riot between gangs inside Bellavista jail left not less than 43 individuals lifeless.

Ecuador’s jail company, identified by its Spanish acronym SNAI, mentioned on Tuesday that it was transferring 15 inmates from Bellavista jail to different detention centres so as to defend their security. It additionally mentioned it will present family members with info.

In one other tweet, SNAI revealed pictures of firearms, ammunition, knives and cell phones that it mentioned had been discovered within the jail after the riot.

The Inter-American Fee on Human Rights has mentioned Ecuador’s jail system is blighted by state abandonment and the absence of a complete coverage, in addition to poor situations for inmates.

Final 12 months, 316 prisoners died throughout clashes in numerous prisons throughout Ecuador, prompting the federal government to pardon some 2,000 inmates in an effort to cut back overcrowding.

However the issue persists. The nation’s prisons home about 33,900 individuals and are 12.5 p.c past most capability, in line with official figures.

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