At least 20 die in Ecuador prison riot

CUENCA, Apr 04 (AFP): At least 20 people died in a prison riot early Sunday in southern Ecuador, the president's office said, the latest outburst of deadly violence in the South American country's detention facilities.

"There are 20 reported dead who have been transferred to the Forensic Center of Cuenca," said President Guillermo Lasso's press office.

Five of the inmates were "mutilated" in the clash in the El Turi prison in Cuenca, Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo said.

Ecuador has struggled in recent years to contain prison violence-usually gang-related-with 320 inmates killed in riots in 2021.