At least 68 inmates have been killed in an explosion of violence at the infamous Litoral prison in Ecuador.
Two months ago, a gang war in the same prison left 118 dead. Gang members then crawled through homemade hallways to attack members of a rival gang in another wing.
Even now, drug gangs vying for power in prison are said to have clashed.
Residents near the prison in the coastal city of Guayaquil heard gunfire and explosions for hours. Heavily armed units of the military police entered the prison and seized weapons and explosives.
Images allegedly taken in prison are circulating on social media. It shows that there are corpses on the ground, some completely burned.
President Guillermo Lassa declared a state of emergency last month to end drug crime and street violence in Ecuador. The army and police therefore have broad powers to guarantee safety on the street.
There are 8,500 inmates in the Litoral prison.
–
