New massacre in Ecuador prison
Quito, November 13 (RHC)-- Another massacre has been carried out that left a total of 58 dead and 12 wounded in the Litoral Penitentiary, located on the coast of Ecuador in Guayaquil.
The new clashes began the day before and were characterized by gunshots inside the institution, some of which reached a citadel located in the surroundings of the prison.
The governor of Guayas province, where the prison, considered the most conflictive of the national penal system, is located, said that the events took place early this morning and expressed regret for the violent deaths that occurred as a result of the shooting.
For her part, the commander of the National Police, Tannya Varela, said that the police decided to intervene in the center, before the confrontation had ended, in an attempt to provide security to Pavilion 2 of the prison.
The actions extended from 02:20 in the morning until after 07:00, local time, and after midday it was announced that the area is now under control.
Meanwhile, citizens with family members imprisoned inside the Litoral have been stationed outside the prison since the night, demanding information from the authorities about the incident and the list of prisoners killed and wounded, but without receiving any information so far.
In the midst of the situation, ambulances and police cars enter and leave the prison, but there are no official reports.
The new massacre is the second largest in the prison system after the massacre that occurred in the same rehabilitation center last September, which claimed 119 lives and left about 80 wounded.
In the capital, the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, the Minister of Government, Alexandra Vela, and other government officials are holding an emergency meeting to assess the situation and make the relevant announcements.
The new incidents occur during a state of emergency in the prison system, adopted to curb insecurity in these institutions marked by overcrowding and poor infrastructure conditions, in addition to frequent fights between drug gangs seeking to retain control of the prisons.
Ecuador has been experiencing a crisis in the prison network since 2019, exacerbated in recent months after the beginning of Lasso's presidential term, at the end of last May.
The request of institutions such as the National Assembly and the Ombudsman's Office, as well as the population and international entities is to implement concrete measures to restore security inside and outside the facilities. (Source: PL)
