TEGUCIGALPA: At least 41 people have been killed in a riot at a women’s prison near the capital Tegucigalpa.
Officials said the fight broke out between rival gangs and one of the gangs set the cell alight that caused the majority of the deaths but some of the victims were shot.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro expressed solidarity with grieving family members and announced a state of emergency.
She also said she would take drastic measures to hold security leaders to account.
Security minister Ramon Sabillon was dismissed and replaced by Gustavo Sanchez, who was serving as the director of the national police.
The situation at the prison is a reminder of the ongoing problem of gang violence in Honduras.
The country has one of the highest murder rates in the world, and gangs are a major contributor to the violence. It’s important that the Honduran government takes steps to address the issue of gang violence and improve the conditions in its prisons.
Women in prison are particularly vulnerable to violence, and it’s vital that their safety is ensured.
It’s unfortunate that many young people in Honduras have lost hope for a better future and feel that their only option is to migrate to the United States.
Honduras has become a major transit country for drugs, particularly Colombian cocaine, that are destined for the United States.
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