Soldiers are on the streets in several cities in Ecuador as the country tackles unprecedented days of violence.

A 60-day state of emergency began on Monday after a notorious gangster vanished
from his prison cell.

The government says the violence is a reaction to President Daniel Noboa’s plan to build a new high security prison for gang leaders.

The president had also announced on Wednesday that Ecuador would begin to deport foreign prisoners, especially Colombians, to reduce the number of inmates.

President Noboa went on to declare a state of emergency in response to a wave of recent jail riots and escapes from prisons and other acts of violence blamed by authorities on criminal gangs.