At least 15 inmates killed in Ecuador prison fight

At least 15 inmates have been killed and 14 more injured in a fight at a notoriously violent prison in Ecuador.

The Ecuadorean prison service SNAI said the "grave incidents" had occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at El Litoral jail in the city of Guayaquil.

It added that security personnel had regained control of the prison and were conducting a search of the premises.

El Litoral has been scene of a series of violent gang confrontations, the deadliest of which saw more than 120 inmates killed in September 2021.

People living near El Litoral reported hearing shots early on Tuesday.

They also said they had seen a helicopter flying above the jail and saw police tactical units arriving.

The authorities have not yet released any details about those killed but said that an investigation into what caused the deadly fight was under way.

The prison houses members of some of Ecuador's most violent gangs, who in many cases continue to run their criminal enterprises from behind bars.

The gangs also intimidate and threaten prison staff.

In September, the director of El Litoral, María Daniela Icaza, was shot dead by gunmen who opened fire on her car.

Her brother told local media that she had been receiving threatening phone calls before the attack.

Ecuador has been struggling to contain a wave of gang violence which has seen it transformed from one of the safest nations in Latin America to one of the deadliest.