"Multiple Ecuadorian Prisons Under Siege as Inmates Take Over, Holding Over 90 Guards Hostage"
Over 90 prison guards are being held hostage by inmates across five different prisons in Ecuador, as the country's security crisis escalates. The recent killing of a mayor and uprisings in several penitentiaries have prompted the government to declare a state of emergency in two provinces. Ecuador has been plagued by violence within its prisons, with competing criminal organizations often ruling over them. The attack on the mayor has shocked the nation, which is holding elections next month amidst a growing escalation of violence. The three main presidential candidates have condemned the attack and pledged to address the security crisis.