Seven inmates died amid unrest at a prison in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, authorities said on Sunday, with 11 other prisoners suffering injuries.

The fighting first broke out Saturday afternoon at a facility in Tuxpan and continued throughout the night, officials said.

Veracruz state forces, with military support, were able to get into the prison by Sunday morning and regain control.

“As a result of the riot, we report the tragic deaths of seven inmates and 11 injured people,” said a statement from the state security ministry.

After the fight, three inmates were transferred to another prison in Veracruz, though authorities did not disclose specifics.

Local media reported that the prisoners started the riot after asking authorities to guarantee their safety when faced with threats from inmates who were accused of being part of a violent criminal group.

Conflicts between cartels and other organised crime groups in Mexico are often replicated in prison populations, which struggle with overcrowding.

Last month, a prison riot in the northwestern state of Sinaloa left three inmates dead.

- Agence France-Presse