Prisons bureau: Death toll in prison clash tops 100

The death toll in a gang battle in a penitentiary in the coastal city of Guayaquil has risen to more than 100 as authorities find more bodies, Ecuador’s prison service said Wednesday. At least five of the bodies were beheaded.

The country’s prisons bureau said in a tweet that “as of the moment more than 100 dead and 52 injured have been confirmed” in Tuesday’s clash the Guayas prison.

Earlier, the confirmed death toll had stood at 30 but regional police commander Fausto Buenao said bodies found in the prison’s pipelines were still being identified.

Armored vehicles, soldiers, ambulances and relatives of inmates gathered outside the penitentiary, the latter waiting for news of loved ones inside.

Police Commander Fabian Bustos said a police and military operation had regained control of the prison after five hours on Tuesday He said several weapons had been seized.