A violent prison riot erupted in Machala, in southwest Ecuador, on the morning of November 9–10, 2025, leaving at least 31 inmates dead and dozens more injured, in one of the country’s deadliest prison uprisings this year. The riot began in the early hours — at about 3:00 a.m. local time — with gunfire, explosions, and desperate cries reported by nearby residents, underscoring the extreme intensity of the unrest. Authorities from the National Service for Comprehensive Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI) confirmed that 27 of those killed were found to have died from asphyxiation or hanging, while four others lost their lives earlier in the day during armed clashes inside the facility. Tactical police were deployed to regain control amid the chaos, reflecting how quickly tensions within the facility escalated beyond the capacity of regular guards to manage. The unrest highlighted both the immediate human toll and the broader volatility of Ecuador’s penitentiary system.

According to official accounts, the violence unfolded in multiple stages, with rival groups clashing violently throughout the day. In the initial hours, inmates deployed firearms and explosives against one another, leading to at least four early deaths and nearly forty injuries, including wounded prisoners and at least one police officer. Later, rival gang members engaged in reprisals, culminating in targeted killings where dozens of prisoners were asphyxiated inside shared cells after internecine attacks — a method authorities are still investigating in detail. Forensic teams and operational personnel remained on scene for extended periods to gather evidence and piece together the timeline of events. The riot’s scale and brutality were such that authorities described it as a continuation of broader gang violence within Ecuador’s prison network, rather than an isolated incident.

The outbreak at Machala was not viewed as a spontaneous blowup but one linked to deeper structural problems within Ecuador’s overcrowded and under-resourced prison system. Officials reported that part of the unrest was triggered by plans to transfer inmates to a new maximum-security facility, intended to reduce overcrowding and gang dominance in older facilities. However, the announcement of transfers often heightens anxiety and factional disputes among prison gangs jockeying for power — which in this case appears to have sparked violent responses inside Machala. Ecuador’s prisons have suffered longstanding issues with overcrowding, inadequate staffing, limited surveillance, and insufficient infrastructure, all of which create environments where gangs can establish zones of control and enforce their own internal hierarchies with little interference from authorities. As a result, minor disputes frequently escalate into large-scale clashes, as seen in Machala and other facilities.

The Machala riot is part of a broader pattern of prison violence tied to organized criminal networks — particularly gangs linked to regional drug trafficking. Ecuador’s strategic location along key narcotics routes between Colombia and Peru has made its prisons operational hubs for rival criminal organizations, often with ties to powerful cartels. In the Machala incident specifically, two rival groups Los Lobos and a splinter faction called Sao Box fought for supremacy, further illustrating how internal gang rivalries can rapidly turn deadly when oversight is weak. The government of President Daniel Noboa has declared a state of internal armed conflict to combat rising criminal violence, and authorities have seized countless weapons and contraband from penitentiaries, yet the influence of gangs within prisons remains robust. Riots like Machala underscore how persistent gang power can undermine attempts at reform and restraint within the prison system, complicating efforts to restore safety and order.

The massacre in Machala is not an isolated occurrence but reflects an escalating pattern of deadly riots in Ecuadorian prisons over the past several years. Since 2021, more than 500 inmates have been killed nationwide in prison clashes between rival gangs — with some incidents far deadlier than Machala’s — including notorious riots in prisons such as Guayaquil in 2021 and multiple outbreaks in 2024 and 2025. These events have underscored the severity of gang control and the challenges the state faces in asserting authority over detention facilities. Authorities have frequently deployed both police and military units to regain control during large-scale uprisings, indicating the depth of the crisis. International observers and human rights groups have repeatedly criticized systemic failings such as overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and insufficient staff training, all of which enable gangs to operate with lethal consequences for inmates and guards alike.

Beyond the statistics, the human toll of these prison riots is immense. Families of victims struggle with trauma and limited information about the deaths of loved ones, while surviving inmates and guards carry psychological scars from violence that erupts with little warning. The Machala riot also raises urgent questions about long-term policy solutions, as reactive tactics like deploying tactical units can restore order only temporarily. Experts argue for comprehensive reforms — including infrastructure modernization, improved guard training, conflict-resolution programs, and effective strategies to curb gang influence within prisons. Without addressing these root causes, analysts warn that riots like Machala will remain a recurring feature of Ecuador’s penitentiary system, perpetuating cycles of violence and instability. As authorities continue forensic investigations into the Machala deaths, the tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic transformation to protect both inmates and prison staff.