Riots In Colombian Prisons, Inmates Burning Mattresses And Killing 51 Prisoners

JAKARTA - At least 51 prisoners have died after a fire broke out during a prison riot in the southwestern Colombian city of Tulua. And this is one of the worst incidents of violence in prisons in the country.

"This is a tragic and catastrophic event," General Tito Castellanos, director of the prison agency INPEC, was quoted as saying by NBC News, Tuesday, June 28.

"There was a situation, it turned out to be a riot, the prisoners turned on some mattresses and there was a fire," he continued.

Castellanos said that 51 people were victims of this riot. 49 people died in prison and two died after being taken to hospital.

"Unfortunately most of the victims died from smoke inhalation," he told Caracol.

“We have two (wounded people) who have been sent to Cali. At the moment their diagnosis is with the doctors and we are expecting a report."

Another 24 inmates were hospitalized when the fire was finally extinguished by local firefighters.

The prison has a total of 1,267 inmates and the cell block where the fire broke out was 180 houses.

A hysterical atmosphere ensued outside the prison. An officer reads a list of surviving and uninjured prisoners to anxious family members gathered outside the prison. Some of them screamed with joy when they heard the names of their loved ones.