Honduras prison fire kills at least 357_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Honduras prison fire kills at least 357

A massive fire swept through an overcrowded prison in Honduras and killed at least 357 people, including many inmates trapped inside their cells, officials said on Wednesday.

Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world, according to the United Nations, and there are frequent riots and clashes between members of rival street gangs in its overcrowded prisons.

The attorney general's office said at least 357 people died in the blaze that began late on Tuesday night at the prison in Comayagua, about 75 km north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

It was one of the worst prison fires ever in Latin America, and local radio reports said many of the inmates were burned to death inside their cells.

Honduras is plagued by violent gangs known as "maras", which started in the United States and then spread down into Central America, with members covered in distinctive tattoos.

Soldiers, police and anxious relatives surrounded the Comayagua prison, which housed more than 800 inmates - well above its capacity.

Local firemen said they were prevented from entering the prison due to gunshots. But

Daniel Orellana, head of the prison system, said there was no riot.

"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 said.