Tue Dec 09 02:28:53 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on that summary, formatted for publication:
Summary:
A prison riot at Machala Prison in Ecuador resulted in 13 inmate deaths. The violence, occurring after an explosion outside the prison, is part of a larger trend of escalating drug-related violence within Ecuador’s prison system. This has led to a surge in the country’s homicide rate and prompted the government to consider constitutional changes making it harder for prisoners to gain sentence reductions. The situation remains precarious despite government and military intervention, with international organizations urging investigations into prison crimes and protection for inmates. The Interamerican Commission of Human Rights recorded at least 591 killings in Ecuador’s prisons from 2020 to 2024.
News Article:
Ecuador Prison Riot Leaves 13 Dead Amid Escalating Drug Violence
Published: December 9, 2025, 07:58 AM IST
QUITO, ECUADOR
Thirteen inmates were killed in a violent clash at the Machala Prison in southwestern Ecuador, authorities reported on Monday. The incident, which followed the detonation of an explosive device outside the facility on Sunday, is the latest in a series of deadly riots plaguing Ecuador’s prisons.
The National Service for People Deprived of Liberty stated that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the violence and the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Forensic teams are currently examining the bodies of the deceased.
Ecuador’s prison system has been struggling with a surge in drug-related violence, driven by gangs operating from behind bars who control extortion rackets and drug shipments. The country has become a key transit point for cocaine destined for Mexico and the United States, contributing to a tripling of the national homicide rate in the last four years.
This incident follows a deadly riot at Machala Prison last month that killed 31 inmates. In September, 14 prisoners died in a gang fight at the same facility.
In response to the escalating crisis, legislators from Ecuador’s ruling party have proposed a constitutional amendment aimed at restricting prisoners’ access to sentence reductions.
The government’s efforts to quell the violence, including deploying the military to oversee prisons, have so far proven insufficient. Last year a notorious gang leader escaped from prison triggering a state of emergency and President Noboa issuing a decree stating the country is in an internal conflict against drug cartels. The Interamerican Commission of Human Rights urged the government in January to investigate crimes committed in prisons and protect the lives of inmates.
The Interamerican Commission of Human Rights has documented at least 591 killings in Ecuador’s prisons between 2020 and 2024, highlighting the severity of the situation.
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