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Deadliest Fire in Chile's Prison Kills 81 Inmates

   VOA News 08 December 2010

   At  least  81 inmates have died after a fire swept through a prison in
   the Chilean capital, Santiago.
   Chilean  state-run television said early Wednesday hundreds of inmates
   were evacuated and at least 19 were injured, some with serious burns.
   Local  television  footage  showed flames and smoke billowing from the
   building.  Other images showed inmates waving their hands through the
   bars, while relatives screamed at police to let them help.
   Relatives  told local media that prison police had initially prevented
   firefighters  from  entering  the  building,  which  reportedly is 800
   inmates over capacity. Â
   It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.
   A Chilean official says it is the deadliest incident in the history of
   the country's prison system.

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