Deadly Honduras jail Fire Probed

[tommy]

The president of Honduras, Porfirio Lobo, has pledged a full and transparent investigation after a jail fire killed more than 350 inmates.

Mr. Lobo also suspended local and national prison officials while the inquiry into the tragedy at the jail was conducted.

Many victims suffocated or burned in their cells.

Human Rights Watch said the tragedy was the result of chronic overcrowding in Honduran jails.

The fire in the jail in Comayagua started late on Tuesday night and took more than an hour to be brought under control.

Prisons in Honduras, which has the highest murder rate in the world, are often seriously overcrowded and hold many gang members.

[205victor]

A source has it that from more than eight surviving inmates, one reports that one of the inmates set fire on a mattress thus causing the blaze that swept through the prison. it is evident from this incident that inmate in many prison are in possession of dangerous weapons and thus this calls for thorough frisking of the both the cells and inmates so as to ensure the safety of other inmates.

[luicer]

I hate to talk about the scene. Very painful people being congested in jails; does it mean the government had nothing to do with this! Even if it is quite a punishment, I bet they have rights to be treated just like human beings!

[lynkez]

I feel the authorities should build more cells for that matter to avoid such incidents. They do not have to be careless on the prisoners for after all they will still have a case to answer in heaven and no one is an exemption but the righteous only. Let fairness and justice prevail.