A fire erupted at a jail in Venezuela's northern city of Valencia, has claimed at least 68 lives, attorney general Tarek Saab said on Wednesday.
According to New York Times, the fire started during riots in the jail, with family members of inmates soon gathering outside, some grieving and others brawling with the riot police.
Reasons behind the rioting is still ambiguous, as officials had released very limited information on the incident.
Saab said that four public prosecutors were chosen to probe the incident and declare a cause behind the riots and the fire. He also confirmed that all but two victims were male.
"What we want is justice," one relative, María Jose Rondon, said in a video posted to Twitter. "We want to know everything that is happening."
Attached to a Police Station, the prison facility had a capacity of 60 detainees, as told by workers at the scene.
However, the appalling state of Venezuelan prisons is no secret, with most of them drastically overcrowded and understaffed.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
