Riots at two prisons in Ecuador left at least 21 inmates dead, authorities said Thursday as the country grappled with its second wave of deadly prison violence this year.
Another 50 people were injured including some police officers. Elite police units regained control of the two prisons on Wednesday, one in the southwest province of Guayas and the other in the central Andean province of Cotopaxi, the SNAI prisons management body said in a statement.
Thirteen inmates died at the Cotopaxi prison and 35 prisoners and 6 police officers were injured, according to an updated toll.
Police and soldiers prevented a planned escape from the facility by 31 inmates.