A fire swept through a crowded prison in Comayagua, Honduras overnight, leaving at least 300 inmates dead. The blaze is believed to have been started around 11 p.m. by an inmate purposely setting his mattress on fire. Flames quickly spread through more than half of the prison, according to a spokesman for the Comayagua fire department. Many of the prison’s 852 inmates were trapped in their cells as prison guards tried to find keys to free them.
Honduras Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejia said at least 475 inmates escaped unharmed while 300 have been confirmed dead. Another 21 inmates were injured and are hospitalized while at least 56 others remain missing and are presumed dead.
As news of the fire spread through the city, families of inmates gathered outside the prison and demanded information on survivors and fatalities. At one point, the crowd began throwing rocks at prison officials and tried to force their way into the compound to claim the dead. Prison guards used tear gas to drive them back and retain control of the situation.
Security minister Pompeyo Bonilla promised to provide more information to the relatives of all the inmates “as soon as possible. "I understand the worry and demands of the people, but we have to abide by the law," Bonilla said.
The fire is under investigation.
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