A prison official (left) who was being held hostage by inmates is embraced by a relative upon being released from Machala prison, in Machala, Ecuador, on January 13, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

QUITO - All hostages held by inmates in Ecuador's prisons have been freed, local media reported citing the country's prison agency SNAI on Saturday.

Some 150 prison guards and administrative officials were held hostage by prisoners since Monday amid a surge in violence in the South American country.

President Daniel Noboa on the social media platform X congratulated SNAI, police and armed forces for the successful release of the prison staff.

There would be an investigation to determine those responsible for the hostage-taking, SNAI said in its statement

There would be an investigation to determine those responsible for the hostage-taking, SNAI said in its statement.

SNAI reported incidents at several prisons earlier Saturday, including an armed confrontation with inmates at the prison in El Oro province that resulted in the death of a guard.

Ecuador is grappling with a security crisis that worsened this week with the on-air storming of a TV station, unexplained explosions in several cities and the kidnapping of police officers.

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The police and the armed forces were continuing to carry out operations around the country. More than 1,000 people have been arrested since a state of emergency began on Monday, the government said.