A violent prison riot in southwest Ecuador has become one of the country’s deadliest incidents this year, leaving at least 31 inmates dead, according to Ecuador’s national prisons agency, SNAI. The unrest occurred at a facility in the coastal city of Machala and prompted an urgent investigation by authorities.

In a statement shared overnight, SNAI said most of the victims died from asphyxiation, while others were found deceased under circumstances still being examined. Officials emphasized that forensic teams were working at the scene and that conclusions would be made only after all evidence is reviewed.

The violence reportedly began around 3:00 a.m. local time. Residents living nearby described hearing gunfire, explosions, and cries for help coming from inside the prison. The sounds underscored the scale of chaos unfolding behind the walls.

Elite tactical police units were deployed and eventually regained control of the facility. Earlier reports confirmed several deaths during the initial outbreak, but as the day progressed, authorities discovered additional victims. In total, dozens of inmates and one police officer were reported injured.

Officials have not confirmed whether rival gangs were directly involved, but the prison had recently undergone a reorganization process, a change that has previously sparked clashes. Ecuador’s prisons are widely known to be affected by gang influence and internal power struggles.

Over the past several years, Ecuador’s penitentiary system has become deeply entangled with organized crime. More than 500 inmates have been killed in prison-related violence since 2021, much of it linked to drug-trafficking groups fighting for control.

The Machala prison has seen repeated incidents. Earlier this year and in past months, deadly riots at the same and other facilities highlighted a troubling pattern of escalating violence and instability.

As the investigation continues, the tragedy reflects a broader national crisis. Ecuador, once considered relatively safe, now faces rising drug-related violence, with prisons increasingly becoming flashpoints in a wider struggle affecting the entire country.