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Fire Kills 68 People at Venezuelan Prison – Reports

A fire at the Venezuelan prison in the northern state of Carabobo killed 68 people overnight, including two female visitors, the chief prosecutor said Wednesday.
Sputnik

Attorney General Tarek Saab appointed four prosecutors to investigate the tragedy, which caused suffering to dozens of families.

"The result of preliminary inquiries suggests that 66 men and two female visitors have died," Saab said on Twitter.

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Earlier, local media suggested that the alleged cause of the blaze was riot attempt. Venezuelan prisons are reportedly extremely overcrowded and filled with weapons. Riots leaving dozens dead are not unusual.

In August, clashes between rioting prisoners and security forces reportedly killed 37 inmates  in the southern Venezuelan state of Amazonas,

In 2016, the explosion occurred on the visiting day in jail of San Juan de los Morros, in Guarico State. At least one person was killed and 22 others were injured.

 

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