Prison fire in Indonesia kills 41 inmates

A fire at a prison at Indonesia's Java island on Wednesday killed 41 inmatesand injured dozens of others as per an official. The prison is located just outside Indonesian capital Jakarta. The fire broke out in the early hours when most inmates were asleep.

Rescue teams were able to put out the fire, which was mostly contained in one block that housed prisoners jailed over drug charges, at around 3:00 am (2000 GMT Tuesday) and evacuated the victims.

"Forty-one inmates died, eight were badly injured and 72 others sustained minor injuries," Jakarta police chief Fadil Imran told a press conference.

Inmates with serious injuries were rushed to general hospitals in Tagarang for treatment. Prisoners with minor wounds were treated in a health clinic.

"Forty died on the scene and one died on his way to the hospital," said Yasonna Laoly, Indonesia's justice minister, adding that eight were seriously injured and 31 sustained minor injuries.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident, but suspected an electrical fault may be behind the fire.

"I have checked the scene, based on early observation, it is suspected (the fire) happened because of a short circuit," Imran said.

The prison was overcrowded. It was designed to house 1225 inmates but has more than 2000. Block C where the fire originated was stuffed full of 122 convicts at the time of the fire.

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