Ecuador declares emergency in prisons after deadly riots At least 22 prisoners were killed and several police officers were injured after clashes between rival gangs erupted at two of Ecuador's largest prisons. Ecuador deployed military soldiers to assist in guarding the prisons Ecuador on Thursday declared a state of emergency in its prisons after riots left 22 dead and 57 wounded. What we know about the riots Authorities said violence erupted on Wednesday afternoon at the country's two largest prisons — Litoral Penitentiary in the port city of Guayaquil and the Latacunga prison in the central Cotopaxi region. People waited outside prisons for news about incarcerated family members