Ecuador prison riot leaves 14 dead, 14 wounded

QUITO (Reuters) -A prison riot caused by gang fighting in southern Ecuador on Monday left 14 people dead and another 14 wounded, according to a local police chief.

Prisoners in port town Machala, south of Guayaquil, faced off with authorities, killing a guard and kidnapping officers, police chief William Calle told TV network Ecuavisa.

"From the inside they were shooting, throwing bombs, grenades," Calle said.

Some prisoners escaped, and 13 have been recaptured so far, he added.

After about 40 minutes, authorities were able to retake control of the prison, according to Calle.

Ecuador has been plagued by prison riots in recent years, with hundreds of inmates killed. The government of President Daniel Noboa, who has vowed to crack down on crime, attributes the clashes to gangs vying for territory and control.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland)

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