Honduras Prison Fire: Half of Inmates Never Formally Charged
23.05.12
Speaking to Reuters, Honduran soldier Johnny Ordenez said: "The corpses are charred and some of them are stuck on top of each other."
"You have to peel them apart like an orange."
On Wednesday, Honduran President Porfirio Lobo suspended national prison system director Danilo Orellana, who refused to comment on the tragedy.
As rescuers picked through the wreckage, piles of bodies were found stacked up in the bathrooms, where inmates had apparently fled hoping the water might save them from the flames.
According to AP, the charred remains of prisoners were found clinging to each other in bathtubs and curled up in laundry sinks.
The report stated that at night there were only 12 guards on duty - a fact many now say further hampered rescue efforts.
The fire was started by an inmate setting his mattress alight, with firemen arriving two minutes after receiving a call from prison officials.
But the handful of guards refused
Source: International Business Times