Dozens of people have been killed in a fight between deadly rival gangs inside a prison in Ecuador.

Authorities said that a fight broke out on Monday between the Los bolos and R7 gang inside the Bellavista prison, located about 80km from the capital Quito.

The public prosecutor’s office in the South American nation stated that “For now there are 43 inmates dead,” while adding that the situation was“developing”.

Inmates held at the prison had their concerned relatives waiting to know about their well-being and information about the ongoing occurrence. 

Interior minister, Patricio Carrillo, said that the “fight broke out in the early hours of Monday morning, setting off security protocols.”

Mr Carillo also added that “during the riot, at least 112 people tried to escape but were detained by security forces inside the prison grounds.”

This recent incident turns out to be the latest of deadly prison riots to take place in Ecuadorian prison after 100 inmates were killed and dozen more injured in a riot at a facility in Guayaquil in September last year.