Forty-three inmates remain missing after escaping from a prison in northern Ecuador, the countrys SNAI prisons agency reported on Monday. The getaway comes amid an eruption of gang violence and government crackdowns.Security forces are still searching for the escapees from the Esmeraldas jail near the Colombian border. Officials discovered the empty cells during an inspection of the facility on Sunday, January 14, involving some 2,000 Ecuadorian troops.Authorities initially said 48 prisoners had escaped. Five have since been recaptured and one died under unclear circumstances, according to SNAI.State of emergency declaredEcuadors President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day nationwide state of emergency last week, imposing a nighttime curfew and designating 22 criminal groups as terrorist organizations.The declaration came in response to a wave of attacks, including gunmen storming a TV news studio, explosions around the country, and police kidnappings. Over the weekend, security personnel rescued around 200 guards and staffers abducted from at least seven jails.Ongoing operations countrywideMilitary and police have been deployed to all Ecuadorian prisons after the mass hostage incident. Since the emergency declaration, security forces have made over 1,500 arrests and conducted 41 anti-gang operations nationwide.Manhunts for the fugitive prisoners and gang crackdowns will continue this week, the government stated. Noboa aims to get tough on groups that have terrorized and abused citizens.Newly elected presidents security pledgesNoboa was elected last year on vows to tackle Ecuadors dire security challenges. He has promised new maximum-security facilities to house cartel leaders and other measures to restore order.The jailbreak amid the governments forceful response to the gangs highlights persisting vulnerabilities in Ecuadors prisons.
