Overview
- SNAI confirmed 27 prisoners were found dead by asphyxia in the Machala facility hours after an earlier clash that left four inmates dead, for a total of 31 fatalities.
- Official reports cite 33 injured inmates and one wounded police officer, with forensic and investigative teams still processing the scene.
- Police tactical units entered the El Oro No. 1 prison, reestablished control of the compound, and detained seven people for judicial proceedings.
- The prison authority attributed the disturbances to a planned reshuffling of inmates connected to transfers to a new maximum‑security prison in Santa Elena.
- Following the violence, President Daniel Noboa announced the transfer of 300 high‑risk prisoners to the new Cárcel del Encuentro as part of the government’s security strategy.