A violent prison riot in southeastern Mexico left seven people dead, authorities said Tuesday, marking the latest incident in a state grappling with rising criminal violence.
The public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the deadly clash at a prison in Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco state, where a similar riot in December also resulted in seven fatalities.
Local media reports suggest the violence stemmed from clashes between rival criminal groups inside the facility.
Tabasco, known for its oil production, has experienced a surge in violent crime in recent months. In November and January, two separate gun attacks on bars in Villahermosa claimed the lives of 13 people.
Mexico has been plagued by drug-related violence for nearly two decades. Since 2006, when the government deployed the military to combat drug cartels, more than 480,000 people have been killed, according to official figures.