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| Honduras prison fire kills hundreds | Honduras prison fire kills hundreds |
| (3 days later) | |
| At least 300 prisoners have been killed after a massive fire swept through a jail in Honduras, officials say. | At least 300 prisoners have been killed after a massive fire swept through a jail in Honduras, officials say. |
| Many victims were burned or suffocated to death in their cells in Comayagua, north of the capital Tegucigalpa. | Many victims were burned or suffocated to death in their cells in Comayagua, north of the capital Tegucigalpa. |
| The officials say at least 300 are confirmed dead, but a further 56 inmates, out of the 853 in the prison, are missing and presumed dead. | The officials say at least 300 are confirmed dead, but a further 56 inmates, out of the 853 in the prison, are missing and presumed dead. |
| Relatives of prisoners clashed with police as they tried to force their way into the prison, desperate for news. | Relatives of prisoners clashed with police as they tried to force their way into the prison, desperate for news. |
| Police responded by firing shots into the air and tear gas. | Police responded by firing shots into the air and tear gas. |
| An inquiry is under way whether the blaze was caused by rioting or an electrical fault. | An inquiry is under way whether the blaze was caused by rioting or an electrical fault. |
| Honduran President Lobo pledged a "full and transparent" investigation into the "lamentable and unacceptable" tragedy. | Honduran President Lobo pledged a "full and transparent" investigation into the "lamentable and unacceptable" tragedy. |
| He said local and national prison authorities would be suspended while the inquiry was conducted. | He said local and national prison authorities would be suspended while the inquiry was conducted. |
| 'Hellish' scenes | 'Hellish' scenes |
| The fire broke out late on Tuesday night and took more than an hour to be brought under control. | The fire broke out late on Tuesday night and took more than an hour to be brought under control. |
| Dozens of prisoners died trapped in their cells and were burned beyond recognition. | Dozens of prisoners died trapped in their cells and were burned beyond recognition. |
| Comayagua firefighters' spokesman Josue Garcia said there were "hellish" scenes at the prison and that desperate inmates had rioted in a bid to escape the flames. | Comayagua firefighters' spokesman Josue Garcia said there were "hellish" scenes at the prison and that desperate inmates had rioted in a bid to escape the flames. |
| "We couldn't get them out because we didn't have the keys and couldn't find the guards who had them," he said. | "We couldn't get them out because we didn't have the keys and couldn't find the guards who had them," he said. |
| One prisoner, who managed to escape, later told reporters that he first had heard "the screams of the ones (inmates) on fire and everyone just started fearing for their lives". | One prisoner, who managed to escape, later told reporters that he first had heard "the screams of the ones (inmates) on fire and everyone just started fearing for their lives". |
| "The only thing that we were able to do was start breaking the roof apart so we could go out from above. We started ripping apart the ceiling above us." | "The only thing that we were able to do was start breaking the roof apart so we could go out from above. We started ripping apart the ceiling above us." |
| Lucy Marder, who heads the forensic services in Comayagua, said that 356 people on the prison roster were unaccounted for. | Lucy Marder, who heads the forensic services in Comayagua, said that 356 people on the prison roster were unaccounted for. |
| "The majority could be dead, though others could have suffered burns, escaped or survived," Ms Marder said. | "The majority could be dead, though others could have suffered burns, escaped or survived," Ms Marder said. |
| It was feared many inmates had fled the prison in Comayagua, about 100km (60 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa. | It was feared many inmates had fled the prison in Comayagua, about 100km (60 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa. |
| Amid the confusion, relatives gathered outside the prison to try to get information. | Amid the confusion, relatives gathered outside the prison to try to get information. |
| "I'm looking for my brother. We don't know what's happened to him and they won't let us in," Arlen Gomez told Honduran radio. | "I'm looking for my brother. We don't know what's happened to him and they won't let us in," Arlen Gomez told Honduran radio. |
| Local hospitals are treating dozens of people for burns and other injuries. | Local hospitals are treating dozens of people for burns and other injuries. |
| Some of the injured have been taken to Tegucigalpa for treatment, among them 30 people with severe burns. | Some of the injured have been taken to Tegucigalpa for treatment, among them 30 people with severe burns. |
| Firefighters said they had struggled to enter the prison because shots had been fired. | Firefighters said they had struggled to enter the prison because shots had been fired. |
| Honduran media reported that there had been a riot in the prison before the fire broke out. | Honduran media reported that there had been a riot in the prison before the fire broke out. |
| Prison service head Daniel Orellana denied this. | Prison service head Daniel Orellana denied this. |
| "We have two hypotheses. One is that a prisoner set fire to a mattress and the other one is that there was a short-circuit in the electrical system," he was quoted as saying by Reuters. | "We have two hypotheses. One is that a prisoner set fire to a mattress and the other one is that there was a short-circuit in the electrical system," he was quoted as saying by Reuters. |
| Prisons in Honduras, which has the world's highest murder rate, are often seriously overcrowded and hold many gang members. | Prisons in Honduras, which has the world's highest murder rate, are often seriously overcrowded and hold many gang members. |