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Prison fire in Honduras

February 15, 2012

Hundreds of prisoners have perished in a prison fire in the Central American nation of Honduras. The exact cause of the blaze remains unknown.

https://p.dw.com/p/143g7
Firemen work at prison in the town of Comayagua
Gefängnisbrand in HondurasImage: picture-alliance/dpa

More than 270 people died in a prison fire in Honduras, with many inmates burning to death in their cells, according to local authorities on Wednesday.

Danilo Orellana, head of the Honduran national prison system, said the fire broke out on Tuesday night at a prison in the town of Comayagua, located 140 kilometers (90 miles) from the capital, Tegucigalpa. The prison housed around 800 inmates.

Comayagua fire department spokesman Josue Garcia said "some 100 prisoners were burned to death or suffocated in their cells." Garcia said many of the prisoners were trapped because the guard who had the key to their cells could not be located.

Map of Honduras

Officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze. Orellana said the fire may have been triggered by rioting prisoners or by an electrical short-circuit.

Hector Ivan Mejia, spokesman for the security ministry, said it was feared many other inmates had escaped during the fire.

slk/ncy (AP, dpa, Reuters)