More than 30 people lost their lives after a violent fight unleashed in a prison in Santa Cruz, in eastern Bolivia. According to Univisión, among the deceased is a boy that was in the prison visiting his father. Dozens were also badly injured and required emergency medical assistance.
The event took place at a maximum security prison in Palmasola. According to the source, there is an overpopulation of inmates, which is considered the main trigger of the tragedy. There are an estimated 4500 male and 500 female prisoners registered at the facility.
Univisión reported that the incident was triggered by a power dispute inside the prison. The fight involved two groups of inmates that clashed until an entire sector of the prison was set on fire.
The authorities responsible for the prison confirmed the death of 30 inmates. The commander of the local police, Jorge Aracena, confirmed the death of the small boy as well. "Apparently we have a burned boy, but this has to be clearly established by the forensic team," Aracena said.
The one-year-old was visiting his father in prison for the first time, according La Razón. Leonardito, as his family called him, was visiting his father, Fernando, who was awaiting his freedom after completing a five year sentence for aggravated theft.
According to testimony from the boy's family, after the explosions caused by decanters filled with liquefied petroleum gas, the father held Leonardo in his arms to protect him from the fire but could not reach the exit in time and the flames engulfed both father and son.
After the tragedy, the prison's warden, Ramiro Llanos, explained that they will look for a way to decentralize the prison and that among the immediate reforms is the installation of security cameras and inhibitors to prevent cellphone calls.