9 Die İn Fire At Philippines Maximum Security Prison

Nine prisoners have been confirmed killed in a fire that broke out in a penal colony in central Philippines, a prison official said Friday.



Bobby Olaguer, spokesman for the Bureau of Correction, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the fire hit the maximum security compound of Abuyog Penal Colony in the province of Leyte at 3.45 p.m. (GMT0745) Thursday, leaving nine inmates dead and one still unaccounted for.



Earlier, the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) had reported 11 inmates missing and feared dead.



PNA "ed the country's fire bureau as saying faulty electrical wiring was the probable cause of the blaze that burnt down several buildings in the compound and razed the prison hospital.



Fire chief Junrey Ong told PNA they have not received reports of any inmates escaping the prison during the fire, and survivors were evacuated to the nearby medium security building.



The compound, which has seven buildings and houses 1,500 inmates, is one of seven penal colonies belonging to the Bureau of Corrections.



Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she is closely monitoring the situation.



"Among my instructions [are to] fully secure the area, attend to the needs of the affected inmates, food, clothing, temporary shelter, other emergency needs, like flashlights, medicines, etc., and search for missing inmates, if any," de Lima told the Inquirer in a text message. - Zamboanga