A violent confrontation between rival gangs at a prison in Machala, Ecuador, has resulted in the deaths of 13 inmates and one prison guard, with 14 others injured. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, also saw an unknown number of prisoners escape, though 13 have since been recaptured. Residents nearby reported hearing explosions and gunfire, highlighting the intensity of the clash. Police Chief William Calle attributed the violence to members of the criminal gang Los Lobos Box, who allegedly stormed a wing housing their rivals and launched a brutal attack. Preliminary reports indicate that security personnel responded to an alarm but were taken hostage upon arrival, leading to the death of one guard. Some inmates managed to flee through a hole in the perimeter wall caused by an explosive device, raising questions about how such materials were smuggled into the facility. Among the injured are two police officers. Authorities have since regained control of the prison after deploying 200 police and soldiers. The incident has reignited calls from Machala residents to relocate the prison, which is situated in the city center. Ecuador has been grappling with escalating gang violence, transforming it from one of Latin America’s safest nations to one of its deadliest. Prison gangs, including Los Lobos Box, have been instrumental in running criminal enterprises from behind bars and forging alliances with Mexican drug cartels to control cocaine trafficking routes. Earlier this month, the United States designated Los Lobos and another gang, Los Choneros, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, citing their role in terrorizing the Ecuadorian population to dominate drug trafficking.