Hundreds killed in prison fire in Honduras
(BBC): A massive fire has swept through a jail in Honduras, killing at least 272 prisoners, officials say. Many of the victims were burned or suffocated to death in their cells at the jail in Comayagua, in central Honduras.Families flocked to the site, desperate for news. Some prisoners escaped the blaze by breaking through the roof to jump from the building, they said. Officials are investigating whether an electrical fault caused the blaze. 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.
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.
Lucy Marder, who heads the forensic services in Comayagua, said that reports indicated at least 272 people had been killed. The prison was holding more than 800 inmates. She later 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," Marder said.
Category: World News
Please pay no attention to heartless people comments.
I could tell you that not all people living here have that mentality. Regardless of them being prisoners, they are human and alot of people feel so bad about it.
My heart goes out to those who lost a family member and will not even get the opportunity to bury them as most of them were burnt beyond recognition.
You dont know the lay of the land in Honduras, in fact they are the victims now and they look so innocent and peaceful. I bet they never had a bit of remorse on there victims when they cut there throats or murdered or chopped them with a machete or knife to steal or put a hit on another members family etc.etc. I am sure it was a pay off job to get someone killed in there or in particular a lot of MS-13 gang members or actually escape. We may never know- Could not find the keys.
just goes to show the average mentality on this XXXX rock
272 died- many of whom probably have friend, family and relations here in Cayman and people post comments such as ' watch out for the escapees Cayman' …….unbelieveable ….
Qué dios los bendiga mis compañeros de vida. Qué descansen en paz, les dejo respeto.
And yet you all call this Island Christian or all yourselves… did you all just caught prisoners escaped or that 272 people died?… No heart yet most of you have blood from that country, shame on all of you, the Christianity shows in bad times and of course since you don't have none it can only show nothing more than wickedness. Cayman is not the only place for them, so stop thinking that you have gold here that everyone needs to come here.
And yet you still belive this island is Christian (all evidence to the contrary) because they told you?
….and according to one news source , the UN has said that this country has the highest murder rate in the world!
I thought they said it was the Caribbean with 1/4 of all murders in the world. Is Honduras part of the caribbean or Central America?
Imigration & customs should be on high alert for any of these escaped prisoners – watch out Cayman
Reply to: 02/15/2012 – 12.41
Yet another compassionate comment ! At least 272 human beings perished.
WTF. Thats just twisted.
this is a far away incident, my friend. these criminals would have to get far away from tegulcigalpa, go into rough terrain, cross over into atlantida hundreds of miles away, perhaps pass san pedro sula just to get into the city of la cieba or reach the caribbean coast line. then they will have to find a boat and for some silly reason sail to cayman for freedom. ha ha there is definitely no need to worry about them coming here alive and well.