At least 15 inmates killed in a fight in Ecuador's largest prison

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A fight among inmates in Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prison left 15 dead and 14 wounded, authorities said Tuesday, in the bloodiest prison episode faced by President Daniel Noboa’s government.

Authorities attributed the outbreak to internal tensions among inmates, but offered no further details. The Litoral Penitentiary has a history of violent disturbances, most notably the 2021 massacre that claimed 119 lives.

The latest violence underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Noboa administration in addressing the country’s severe prison crisis. In January, a series of coordinated riots across multiple prisons led to the hostage-taking of 150 prison guards, culminating in the tragic death of one official.

Local media reported helicopters flew over the prison as ambulances and relatives of inmates, some of them shouting in desperation for loved ones, rushed to the gates.