The Virgilio Guerrero Adolescent Offenders Center in Quito.

Quito, Sept 1 (RHC) A structural fire has been raging since midday Thursday at the Virgilio Guerrero Center for Adolescent Offenders in the Ecuadorian capital, where firefighters are trying to control the flames after inmates set fire to mattresses.

This was confirmed by the National Service of Integral Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Teenage Offenders (SNAI), an institution that affirmed to have adopted measures to safeguard the integrity of the adolescents.

The column of smoke is large and visible from several points of the city, with flames coming out of the windows of the building, located in the El Inca sector, reported Prensa Latina.

Firemen, police and members of the Armed Forces are present at the scene.

This event occurred while in other prisons in the country, such as Turi, in the southern province of Azuay, inmates have been holding prison officers hostage since yesterday.

It is also an additional effort for firefighters, who since the day before have been putting out dozens of forest fires in the capital city, two of them still active. (Source:PL)