All prison staff taken hostage during prison riots in Ecuador have been freed, as announced by prison authorities. The release was attributed to security protocols and collaborative efforts by the police and national army. The hostages, consisting of 158 prison guards and 20 administrative staffers, had been held since the previous Monday across seven prisons amidst a rising security crisis in the country. The release followed a state of emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa after the escape of Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los Choneros gang. The security crisis escalated with incidents like the storming of a TV station, unexplained explosions, and the kidnapping of police officers, resulting in at least 19 deaths. Investigations will be conducted to identify those responsible for the hostage-taking, and security operations continue with over 1,000 arrests since the state of emergency began.