This Article is From Apr 09, 2014

Six die in Brazil prison fire

Brasilia: Six inmates of a Brazilian jail were killed in a fire set during a riot, authorities said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Coaraci penitentiary, a detention center in Belem for inmates awaiting trial, prison officials said.

Rioting inmates set fire to mattresses in a cell holding 32 people, the Para state penitentiary system said.

"The fire ended up spreading through the cell," it said, trapping those inside.

Five of the victims died in the cell, and a sixth died early Wednesday in a hospital.

Five other inmates were being treated at the hospital's burn unit.

In all, 27 inmates were injured but most were treated at the scene.

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