Deadly Prison Riot Leaves 31 Inmates Dead as Authorities Probe Cause
The screams began before dawn—gunfire, explosions, and chaos echoing through the prison. By sunrise, more than 30 inmates were dead and dozens more injured, leaving a country already on edge facing renewed shock and fear. Officials quickly labeled it a riot, but inside the facility, the violence appeared far more coordinated. Reports of hangings and asphyxiations suggested deliberate killings rather than spontaneous disorder. The incident in Machala reflected a deeper crisis inside Ecuador’s prison system, where overcrowding and weak control…