At least 41 women are reported to have died in a women’s prison in Honduras after a fight between rival gangs, local authorities said.
The violence took place in a prison about 30 kilometers north of the capital Tegucigalpa.
Most of the victims were burned inside, but there are also reports of prisoners being shot, according to the police. Employees at the prison state that at least seven prisoners are being treated in hospital for gunshot and knife wounds.
In a televised speech, Julissa Villanueva, deputy security minister, said the violence probably started as a reaction to the authorities’ attempts to stop illegal activities in prisons.
– We will not back down, she said.
Promised tough answer
Before the speech, she promised on Twitter a tough response to the violence and declared a state of emergency.
Gangs are largely in control of the country’s prisons, setting their own rules and selling banned goods.
According to Delma Ordonez, who represents the prisoners’ family members, members of one gang had entered another gang’s cell and set it on fire. According to her, that part of the prison should be “totally destroyed”.
About 900 inmates are in the prison, according to Ordonez.