Guayaquil, Ecuador – Five inmates were discovered dead on Friday (March 7, 2025) at the main prison in the Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil, a day after violent clashes between drug trafficking gangs in the city's streets resulted in 22 fatalities, according to Ecuador's state prison authority (SNAI).

"During security checks, five individuals deprived of liberty were found without vital signs" at the Penitenciaría del Litoral, also known as Guayas 1, the SNAI reported.

The incident occurred a day after a deadly shootout between two rival gangs in a troubled area of northwestern Guayaquil, which left 22 dead and six injured.

A police source informed AFP that the deaths at Guayas prison could be in retaliation for the previous day's massacre.

The SNAI stated in a press release that "the causes of this unfortunate event are still under investigation and the respective autopsies are being carried out."

Families Seek Answers at Morgue

The bodies were discovered in the morning, but the SNAI did not release a statement until the evening, following local media reports of family members of inmates inquiring about bodies at the city morgue.

"It is important to note that there has been no riot or disturbance by the inmates at the center," the institution added, addressing alleged alerts of a new revolt within the prison.

Penitenciaría del Litoral is the largest prison within the Guayaquil prison complex, a group of five prisons housing approximately 12,000 inmates.

The prisons have been under military control since the beginning of last year, when President Noboa declared an "internal armed conflict" against criminal gangs.