El Salvador moves 2,000 gang members to new prison

The first group of 2,000 gang members was transferred to a new prison in El Salvador, the country's president NayibBukele said on Friday. The prison, located 74 kilometres from San Salvador, has 33 blocks of construction within 236 blocks isolated from the city and is set to hold 40,000 people captured under El Salvador's state of emergency.

The new prison comprises of confinement pavilions with metal cabins and punishment cells, virtual courtrooms and two modules for factories meant for inmates' work. The massive prison has been the subject of harsh criticism for alleged human rights violations and contradictions to international standards. The authorities have captured more than 64,000 people accused of being gang members since the beginning of the state of emergency.