At least 40 people have died after a fire broke out in a congested jail block in Banten Province, Indonesia.
According to a government spokeswoman, the incident happened today morning and it left several people injured.
The Prison Department of the Law and Human Rights Ministry spokeswoman, Rika Aprianti confirmed what they have so far done to contain the matter.
“The fire broke out at 1 to 2 a.m. at the Tangerang Prison Block C and it was extinguished. The authorities are still evacuating the facility. Investigations have also been launched to determine the cause of the fire.”
Aprianti said that the block housed inmates being held for drug-related offences and had a capacity for 122 people.
She further added that the prison was overcrowded but did not provide the exact number of people present during the incident.
Contrary to the government’s data of September, the prison in Tangerang housed more than 2,000 inmates, instead of its 600 people capacity.
Police spokesman Yusri Yunus told the media that it is suspected the fire was a result of the initial electrical short circuit.
By Everlyne Bosibori
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