REGIONAL PRISON IN GUAYAQUIL ON FIRE AMID INMATES RIOT

On Wednesday night, the Guayas No. 4 Male Social Rehabilitation Center, a regional prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador, was set on fire by inmates who started a riot in opposition to state intervention and the deprivation of their liberty. According to the institution the perimeter of the penitentiary has been controlled with 80% success. The riot took place in the same prison where Adolfo “Fito” Macías, leader of the criminal gang “Los Choneros” disappeared in January which led to an internal conflict declared by the government of Ecuador due to violence in the streets and in prisons. Currently, there are no injuries or detainment of agents reported. Wednesday night’s event is followed by the increase of police and military presence in prisons in recent weeks as the state of emergency in Ecuador will be lifted on April 8th.