276:, mentioned that the prison was one of the "worst prisons" he had seen when he visited the facility in 2005. Nikkel mentioned that the overpopulated cells, the constant prison riots and the inadequate conditions of the prison had brought to light the harsh and terrible conditions of Honduran prisons. Vivanco said that " horrendous tragedy the result of prison conditions that are symptomatic of the country’s larger public security crisis." The
162:, killing 361 people. Prisoners trapped in their cells died by burning or suffocation; dozens were burned beyond recognition. The fire started late in the evening of 14 February. According to one prisoner, calls for help went out almost immediately and "for a while, nobody listened. But after a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, a guard appeared with keys and let us out." Rescue forces did not arrive until about 40 minutes later.
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but were reportedly shot at by prison guards. According to firefighters, around 100 inmates burned to death or suffocated in their cells as the keys to release them could not be located. Around 30 prisoners were transported to the capital to receive specialist treatment for severe burns. Paola Castro, the local governor, claimed that she called the
260:
Relatives of the prisoners gathered outside the facility to discover the fate of the incarcerated, eventually leading to clashes with the police. Angry family members attempted to storm the prison to claim the remains of deceased inmates and were restrained with tear gas. Some were seen hurling rocks
185:
prison is considered a medium security facility, but many of the inmates were being housed for serious crimes, such as murder and armed robbery. Around 475 prisoners escaped from the fire, many through the roof of the facility. Several prisoners jumped over the walls of the prison to escape the fire,
288:
issued a report which said that the prisoners suffered from "malnutrition, overpopulation, and unsanitary facilities." They also mentioned that the prisoners have "easy access to firearms" and they often go unpunished. The security minister of
Honduras claimed in 2010 that the overpopulation of the
247:
The
Comayagua fire is the fourth prison fire in Honduras since 1994 to result in 70 or more casualties. In addition, it was reported that firefighters were unable to aid the victims right away because they heard "gunshots inside the prison," and also because they did not have the keys to enter the
243:
This conclusion was not accepted by many of the relatives of the deceased. One reason may be that
Honduran officials gave out conflicting information on the cause. Governor Castro first stated that an inmate was responsible, and survivors initially reported that an inmate shouted "We will all die
244:
here!" before setting fire to his bedding. Castro later retracted her statement, and prison authorities instead blamed it on an electrical fault. Relatives of the victims were in disbelief of the ATF's determination, arguing that the prisoners would have quickly put the fire out themselves.
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The death toll was initially announced at 382, but was lowered after firefighters stated that 353 bodies were found dead in the scene, with 5 more hospitalized. Several more died from their injuries afterwards, bringing the final death toll to 361.
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to help investigate the fire at the request of the
Honduran government. Israel's ambassador to Honduras said he would relay an offer from an Israeli company to construct four new prisons utilizing high safety and security measures.
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mentioned that prisons in
Honduras were made to accommodate and support up to 6,000 prisoners, but they currently have more than 12,000 inmates. The prison had over 800 inmates, more than twice its intended capacity. The
227:(ATF) determined that the cause was most likely an open flame that accidentally ignited combustible materials, although they were unable to recover the source. Other causes such as lightning, an electrical fault, or an
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in stacks of four. They typically created privacy for themselves by isolating their bunks with wood panels, bed sheets, towels, or drapery. The mattresses were also flammable, being made of thin cloth surrounding a
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269:, demanded a full inquest into the disaster. The Honduran authorities asked the families to "remain calm" despite the "difficult situations" in order to continue with the investigation.
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There were 856 prisoners officially listed on the roster for the prison; more than half of these were not yet convicted of any crime and were being held awaiting trial or even
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were ruled out. There was also a witness who described to investigators that an inmate had fallen asleep while smoking. Because of overcrowding, prisoners were housed in
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The chief of forensic medicine for the prosecutor's office stated that it would take at least three months to identify all of the victims, mainly from DNA samples.
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and the firefighters, but it took them around 20 to 30 minutes to get to the prison, when most of the fire had nearly subsided.
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prisons makes them "universities of crime." A number of inmates are thought to have used the chaos of the fire to escape.
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said it would send 14 experts to help identify the burned victims. The United States sent agents from the
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850:"'We will all die here!': hundreds killed in Honduras prison blaze after inmate sets fire to bedding"
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reiterated Mexico's solidarity with the
Honduran community and pledged to send medics and aid. The
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promised a "full and transparent" investigation for the "unacceptable" tragedy. Mexican
President
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537:"More than 300 killed in Honduras prison fire, one of the deadliest in decades"
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1275:"Chile envĂa 14 expertos para identificar a vĂctimas de incendio en Honduras"
972:"Familiares de presos, vĂctimas de incendio en Honduras, provocan disturbios"
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1063:"Culpan a reo por megaincendio en penal de Honduras; van más de 350 muertos"
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With a death toll of 361, this is the deadliest prison fire ever recorded.
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1000:"Sucias, violentas y sobrepobladas: la vida en las prisiones hondureñas"
1062:
911:
1123:"Más de 300 personas mueren en un incendio en una cárcel de Honduras"
699:"Reos de la prisión hondureña rompieron el techo para huir del fuego"
912:"Incendio en penal de Honduras cobra la vida de al menos 300 presos"
1183:"300 killed in Honduran prison after inmate 'set fire to mattress'"
1095:"Mueren calcinados 358 reos por un incendio en prisiĂłn de Honduras"
1153:"Prison fire in Honduras leaves at least 300 dead, official says"
154:
occurred on 14–15 February 2012 at the
National Penitentiary in
637:
605:
18:
668:"Honduras jail fire: most prisoners had not been convicted"
535:
Mendoza, Martha; Weissenstein, Michael (15 February 2012).
942:"Hundreds killed in 'hellish' fire at prison in Honduras"
820:"U.S. investigators: Honduras prison fire was accidental"
240:
core. As a result, the fire was able to spread quickly.
1213:"Honduras prison fire: Porfirio Lobo vows full inquiry"
633:"Accusations emerge as Honduran prison fatalities rise"
601:"Officials lower death toll from Honduran prison fire"
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After the fire, Ron W. Nikkel, the president of the
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Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
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465:"Honduras prison fire 'leaves at least 272 dead'"
1243:"México mandará médicos a Honduras por incendio"
785:"Honduras prison fire kills at least 300 people"
1338:"US Forensics Team to Help Probe Honduras Fire"
1307:"US to send team to probe Honduras prison fire"
729:"Hundreds killed in fire at prison in Honduras"
1283:(in Spanish). 15 February 2012. Archived from
1129:(in Spanish). 15 February 2012. Archived from
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571:"Death Toll Soars in Prison Fire in Honduras"
8:
1031:"Blaze at Prison Kills Hundreds in Honduras"
495:"Official: 272 Dead in Honduras Prison Fire"
759:"Honduras prison fire officials suspended"
662:
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90:
881:"Honduras prison fire kills at least 300"
77:Learn how and when to remove this message
998:Smith-Spark, Laura (15 February 2012).
405:
225:Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
1029:Hernandez, Javier (15 February 2012).
826:. Associated Press. 21 February 2012.
791:. UK. 15 February 2012. Archived from
674:. Associated Press. 16 February 2012.
569:Archibold, Randal (15 February 2012).
422:Moncada, Jaime A. (1 September 2012).
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196:The Comayagua prison did not utilize
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891:from the original on 4 February 2015
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432:National Fire Protection Association
1336:Cuevas, Freddy (17 February 2012).
1313:. 17 February 2012. Archived from
1159:. 15 February 2012. Archived from
879:Phillips, Tom (15 February 2012).
705:. 15 February 2012. Archived from
501:. 15 February 2012. Archived from
14:
1075:from the original on 6 March 2014
286:United States Department of State
1251:(in Spanish). 15 February 2012.
1071:(in Spanish). 15 February 2012.
761:. Al Jazeera. 15 February 2012.
438:from the original on 8 June 2017
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1384:2012 disasters in North America
856:. Australia. 16 February 2012.
274:Prison Fellowship International
45:; articles on events that lack
1103:(in Spanish). 15 February 2012
978:(in Spanish). 15 February 2012
1:
223:An investigation by the U.S.
34:may be excessively based on
16:Deadly 2012 fire in Honduras
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854:The Sydney Morning Herald
471:. BBC. 15 February 2012.
372:2010 Santiago prison fire
261:at police officers. The
351:14.446528°N 87.642750°W
424:"Lessons of Comayagua"
36:contemporary reporting
1348:Tegucigalpa, Honduras
356:14.446528; -87.642750
263:President of Honduras
202:fire sprinkler system
94:Comayagua prison fire
1311:Agence France-Presse
1219:. 15 February 2012.
1189:. 15 February 2012.
948:. 15 February 2012.
918:. 15 February 2012.
735:. 15 February 2012.
382:Politics of Honduras
1163:on 15 February 2012
1133:on 15 February 2012
1010:on 16 February 2012
795:on 15 February 2012
789:The Daily Telegraph
709:on 17 February 2012
541:The Washington Post
505:on 15 February 2012
394:Honduras portal
367:Prisons in Honduras
347: /
103:14–15 February 2012
1317:on 24 January 2013
1287:on 3 February 2016
1036:The New York Times
575:The New York Times
294:Porfirio Lobo Sosa
267:Porfirio Lobo Sosa
250:Soto Cano Air Base
213:fire extinguishers
1404:Fires in Honduras
1157:Los Angeles Times
302:National Congress
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43:secondary sources
41:Please use newer
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1389:2012 in Honduras
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377:List of fires
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32:This article
30:
21:
20:
1409:Prison fires
1360:. Retrieved
1341:
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1319:. Retrieved
1315:the original
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1289:. Retrieved
1285:the original
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1257:. Retrieved
1248:El Universal
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1225:. Retrieved
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1195:. Retrieved
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1165:. Retrieved
1161:the original
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1135:. Retrieved
1131:the original
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1105:. Retrieved
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1077:. Retrieved
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1045:. Retrieved
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1012:. Retrieved
1008:the original
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893:. Retrieved
885:The Guardian
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862:. Retrieved
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832:. Retrieved
824:Daily Breeze
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797:. Retrieved
793:the original
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767:. Retrieved
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741:. Retrieved
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707:the original
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680:. Retrieved
672:The Guardian
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647:. Retrieved
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583:. Retrieved
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545:the original
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507:. Retrieved
503:the original
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477:. Retrieved
468:
440:. Retrieved
428:NFPA Journal
427:
342:87°38′33.9″W
339:14°26′47.5″N
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1321:18 February
1291:16 February
1259:16 February
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1197:16 February
1167:16 February
1137:16 February
1107:16 February
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1047:16 February
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956:16 February
926:16 February
895:15 February
864:16 February
834:14 February
799:15 February
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713:16 February
682:14 February
649:16 February
617:20 February
585:15 February
551:15 February
509:15 February
479:15 February
442:14 February
354: /
248:cells. The
1414:2012 fires
1378:Categories
1100:La Jornada
916:El Proceso
400:References
327:Law portal
292:President
229:accelerant
206:fire alarm
179:indictment
169:Casualties
144:Accidental
67:March 2024
55:redirected
1394:Comayagua
1127:CNNMexico
1004:CNNMexico
976:Univision
733:USA Today
703:CNNMexico
256:Aftermath
233:bunk beds
211:, manual
188:Red Cross
183:Comayagua
156:Comayagua
150:A deadly
113:Comayagua
1356:Archived
1343:ABC News
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1221:Archived
1217:BBC News
1191:Archived
1073:Archived
1041:Archived
950:Archived
946:Fox News
920:Archived
889:Archived
858:Archived
828:Archived
763:Archived
737:Archived
676:Archived
643:Archived
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473:Archived
469:BBC News
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1364:2012
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1049:2012
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866:2012
836:2018
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684:2018
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587:2012
553:2012
511:2012
499:Time
481:2012
444:2018
200:, a
152:fire
638:CNN
606:CNN
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