Ecuador is grappling with a large-scale security operation aimed at freeing dozens of prison guards who were taken hostage by inmates in multiple penitentiaries. Following days of violence that resulted in at least six deaths and 11 injuries in Guayas prison, unrest spread to other jails where inmates initiated hunger strikes.

In some prisons, prison guards were held against their will, prompting President Guillermo Lasso to declare a state of emergency in the country’s jails. Thousands of police have been deployed to address the crisis. While security forces have managed to regain control of some prison wings, the situation remains tense as efforts continue to free the hostages.

The violence and unrest highlight the severe overcrowding and gang-related issues in Ecuador’s prisons, posing a significant challenge for the government to maintain order and safety.