Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.

Ecuador prison riot leaves 44 dead, 108 on the run

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 10 May 2022 07:55
3 Min Read

The South American country's prison authority SNAI says it activated security protocols to contain the "disturbances to order."

  • x
  • Ecuador prison riot leaves 44 dead, 108 on the run.
    Ecuador prison riot leaves 44 dead, 108 on the run.

Up to 44 inmates died on Monday in Ecuador's latest prison riot, and another 100 prisoners were able to escape, the public prosecutor reported. 

Authorities claimed a fight broke out inside the Bellavista prison in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, in the middle of Ecuador, around 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Quito.

During the brawl, dozens of convicts attempted to flee. Police chief Fausto Salinas reported that 108 were missing after another 112 escaped prisoners were recaptured.

The South American country's prison authority SNAI said it has activated security protocols to contain the "disturbances to order."

Moreover, six gang leaders were transferred from Bellavista to two maximum-security prisons, the Interior Ministry said.

Initially, Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo declared that police were in control of the situation and that all escaped prisoners had been apprehended.

Inmates with facial injuries were transported to medical facilities by truck and ambulance, while family members of those jailed gathered at the prison seeking information, according to AFP reporters on the scene.

'Mutilated bodies' 

Related News

Ecuador Noboa's motorcade comes under rock-throwing attack, 5 detained

Ecuador indigenous groups decry repression, internet blackouts

Before this one, around 350 convicts were slain in five separate prison riots since February 2021.

At least 20 convicts died within the El Turi prison in Cuenca, southern Ecuador, just last month.

President Guillermo Lasso argues that the problem inside the facilities is the same as the problem outside, where drug gangs compete for control of trafficking routes.

Rivalries among inmates can often turn violent, with some prisoners being slashed to death or beheaded with machetes.

"The majority of victims, if not almost 100 percent, were killed with knives and not guns," said Carrillo. "Their mutilated bodies were left where they were."

The convicts were murdered in their cells and common spaces, and then they used guns to try to flee the jail.

Authorities have stated that they will look for firearms and transfer gang leaders to another prison in Guayas Province.

Read next: 20 dead in Ecuador prison riot

Even with increased spending in the prison system, the establishment of a commission to pacify institutions and new measures such as housing the most dangerous inmates in a single facility have not lessened the bloodshed.

Another issue is overcrowding, with 35,000 detainees in 65 institutions that only hold 30,000 inmates. The 1,200-capacity Bellavista prison houses 1,700 inmates.

Ecuador has also experienced an increase in street violence and drug trafficking, which the government has attempted to address by proclaiming a state of emergency in the three most impacted provinces: Guayas, Manabi, and Esmeraldas.

In 2021, the government confiscated a record 210 tons of drugs, and it has already seized 82 tons this year.

  • Ecuador
  • Ecuador prison

Most Read

Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Freed Palestinian prisoners carry rifles as they arrive in the Gaza Strip following their release from Israeli jails, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian resistance remains steadfast, victorious Larijani says

Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Laffan inspecting the command structure of the 10th Infantry Brigade in Kfarskhna-Zgharta on October 13, 2025. (Lebanonese Army)
Politics

Lebanese Army chief: Israeli aggression threatens Lebanon's security

Hamas fighters escort buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arriving in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

154 Palestinian prisoners exiled to Egypt under exchange deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives before US President Donald Trump addresses the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, October 13, 2025 in Occupied Al-Quds. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Politics

Netanyahu withdraws from Sharm el-Sheikh summit amid regional pushback

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS