At Least 29 Dead in Bolivia Prison Violence

At least 29 people were killed and about 50 others wounded Friday at a prison in eastern Bolivia as clashes between rival gangs ended in a huge fire, a top official said.

“The latest information we have is that the number of dead is already at 29. Of those hospitalized, 35 of them have very serious injuries,” prisons director Ramiro Llanos stated.

Police earlier put the death toll at 15 after the incident in a prison in the eastern city of Santa Cruz.

Police commander Jorge Aracena said authorities had brought the situation under control.

Aracena said the incident began early Friday when a group of inmates broke into another sector of the prison, setting a huge fire fueled by exploding propane gas tanks.