Reports: Prison fire in central Honduras kills more than 100

[News_Editor]

Reports: Prison fire in central Honduras kills more than 100

2012-02-15 17:35:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

COMAYAGUA, HONDURAS (BNO NEWS) -- More than 100 people are believed to have died after a fire broke out at a prison in central Honduras, local and regional media quoted fire officials as saying. Dozens more have been injured.

The incident began at around 10:50 p.m. local time when a riot broke out at a prison in Comayagua, the capital of the province which carries the same name. Between 500 and 800 inmates were kept at the prison, many of whom were unable to escape when a fire broke out.

The Spanish EFE news agency quoted Fire Department spokesman Josué García as saying that more than 100 people are believed to have been killed as a result of severe burns and asphyxiation. "There are many bodies piled up inside the modules of people who tried to escape the fire but couldn't," he was quoted as saying.

The La Tribuna newspaper also quoted a fire department official who said more than 100 people died in their cells, but gave no exact figure. In addition to those killed, more than 30 inmates have been taken to hospitals across Comayagua to be treated for burn and smoke injuries.

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