Authorities announced late Saturday that they had retaken control of the Guayaquil prison for the second time in days after a spokesperson for President Guillermo Lasso said violence had erupted earlier in the day between convicts from opposing gangs linked to drug trafficking rings.

Fighting began Friday night; prisoners fought "savagely" in the initial riots, according to Pablo Arosemena, governor of the province of Guayas, where the prison is located.

According to Arosemena, the violence began after the leader of one of the prison's gangs, the Tiguerones, was released after serving half of his term for auto parts theft.

With that individual gone, other groups sensed vulnerability in the Tiguerones and launched an onslaught to try to crush the gang, according to Arosemena.

He then stated that the gang's aim was "to go in and carry out a total massacre."

How did the event start?

The incident started at 7:00 p.m. on Friday when inmates attempted to enter Block 2 of the jail, where their rivaling gang members were being held. They initiated the violence by firing bullets, detonating explosives, and swinging machetes, causing authorities to intervene.

Según información preliminar, alrededor de 68 privados de libertad fueron asesinados y otros 25, heridos. #FiscalíaEc activó personal misional de la Unidad de Flagrancia, que al momento levanta indicios y evidencias al interior del centro carcelario. #FiscalíaContraElDelito pic.twitter.com/k9MqyjSpH5

— Fiscalía Ecuador (@FiscaliaEcuador) November 13, 2021

According to a statement issued by the Ecuador Prosecutor's Office on Twitter, at least 68 inmates were killed and another 25 were injured.

Presidential spokesperson Carlos Jijon said that inmates from two different blocks attacked each other in the second outbreak of fighting on Saturday.

He subsequently confirmed that police had pushed their way inside the prison's interior and affirmed that the situation was "under control."