Some nine people have been killed and 78 others injured in a fire accident that occurred at the New Bell prisons in Douala, Cameroon, in the early hours of Wednesday 20th August 2008.
According to state radio, the fire consumed part of the male quarters which is the most populated section of the Douala Central prison in New Bell.
In course of the incidence six cells that play host to about 600 inmates were destroyed by the fire. The origin of the fire has not yet been uncovered.
Official sources say the 9 inmates died of suffocation while of the 78 injured, 30 cases are very serious. The injured were taken to the Laquintinie and the Douala reference hospitals.
The Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali, paid a visit to the prison to have first hand information of the damage caused by the fire.
The Vice PM was accompanied by the Secretary of State in charge of Penitentiary Administration, Ngafesson Emmanuel Bantar.
The prison has been placed under tight security given that some inmates took advantage of the disorder caused by the fire and attempted to escape but were halted by the forces of law and order.
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1 comment:
If not fire, it's jail break.What is really wrong in that country.I think it's time to decongest that prison.I have read so many articles painting a very sad story concerning that same prison. Something needs to be done.
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