Video: Massacre in Ecuador prison leaves 14 dead after clash between criminal gangs

During the early hours of Monday, September 22 , a massacre at the Social Rehabilitation Center ( CRS ) in San Antonio de Machala , Ecuador , which left at least 14 people dead, several injured and other inmates escaped.

Images and videos of the incident began circulating on social media, showing the magnitude of the violence inside the prison .

According to initial reports, the incident would have originated from a confrontation between criminal groups operating within the prison, using firearms and explosives.

According to the Ecuadorian media El Comercio Ecuador , around 2:00 a.m., a group of inmates, allegedly linked to the criminal organization Los Lobos Box , managed to escape from their cells and start a riot .

During the riots, inmates murdered a prison guard, injured two police officers , and kidnapped other security personnel from the Machala prison.

The inmates then went to another ward where members of a rival group, known as Los Lobos , were being held. The confrontation between these factions reportedly escalated rapidly, leading to violence that resulted in multiple casualties.

The head of the National Police in El Oro province, William Calle , confirmed that 14 people were killed and 14 others were injured. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for emergency medical care.

Prison and security authorities are working to contain the riot and search for the inmates who allegedly managed to escape during the uprising. Special operations are expected to be implemented to secure the prison and prevent further incidents.

Clashes between criminal groups have intensified in Ecuador 's prisons in recent years, exposing the vulnerability of the prison system and the need to strengthen control and oversight measures.

So far, according to El Comercio Ecuador , investigations continue to determine how the massacre occurred, identify those responsible , and clarify the circumstances that allowed inmates to access weapons and explosives within the Machala CRS .