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| Argentine prisoners die in fire | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| At least 31 prisoners have died after a fire swept through a maximum security prison in Argentina. | |
| The blaze broke out late on Sunday in a cellblock at the Varones jail housing 460 inmates, in the province of Santiago del Estero. | The blaze broke out late on Sunday in a cellblock at the Varones jail housing 460 inmates, in the province of Santiago del Estero. |
| The fire was started by prisoners who were trying to escape, reports say. | The fire was started by prisoners who were trying to escape, reports say. |
| Most of the deaths were caused by asphyxiation as the block filled with smoke, said Ricardo Daives, the justice minister for the province. | Most of the deaths were caused by asphyxiation as the block filled with smoke, said Ricardo Daives, the justice minister for the province. |
| Another 10 people, including some prison guards, were treated for smoke inhalation. | Another 10 people, including some prison guards, were treated for smoke inhalation. |
| The authorities have now regained control of the prison and the fire has been put out. | The authorities have now regained control of the prison and the fire has been put out. |
| "The death toll could rise by two more," Mr Daives said on local TV. | "The death toll could rise by two more," Mr Daives said on local TV. |
| "We won't be able to tell exactly until an investigation is complete. But the situation is now under control." | "We won't be able to tell exactly until an investigation is complete. But the situation is now under control." |
| A similar incident happened in October 2005, when 32 inmates were killed in the prison of Magdalena, south-east of Buenos Aires, in a fire started during an uprising. | A similar incident happened in October 2005, when 32 inmates were killed in the prison of Magdalena, south-east of Buenos Aires, in a fire started during an uprising. |