A violent riot at a prison in the coastal city of Machala, southwest Ecuador, has left at least 31 inmates dead, according to the national prisons agency, SNAI. Authorities described it as one of the country’s deadliest prison incidents this year and said an urgent investigation was launched.

SNAI reported that most of the victims died from “asphyxiation,” while others were found dead under circumstances that are still being examined. Officials emphasized that forensic teams are working at the scene and that conclusions will be made only after all evidence is reviewed.

The violence reportedly began around “3:00 a.m. local time.” Residents living near the prison said they heard gunfire, explosions, and cries for help coming from inside the facility, pointing to the scale of chaos unfolding behind the walls.

Elite tactical police units were deployed and later regained control of the prison. As the situation developed, authorities discovered additional victims, raising the death toll beyond early reports. Dozens of inmates and one police officer were injured. Officials have not confirmed whether rival gangs were directly involved, but the prison had recently undergone a reorganization, a change that has previously triggered clashes.

The incident highlights a broader crisis in Ecuador’s prison system, which has become deeply entangled with organized crime. Since 2021, more than 500 inmates have been killed in prison-related violence, much of it linked to drug-trafficking groups. The Machala riot reflects how prisons have become flashpoints in Ecuador’s growing drug-related violence.