Prisoners opposing move set fire

PRISONERS objecting to  transfer   from the public prison in David Chiriqui to a new facility set fire to mattresses and furniture  in a pavilion of the jail known as La Mata, on Friday, October 20

Three  Fire Brigade units from Chiriquí and Bugaba were called in to quench the flames and the  200 inmates remaining in the jail were moved to a safe location. No injuries were reported among the detainees but one fireman was treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire also damaged the adjoining National Police barracks, but arms and computers were safely evacuated.

In the days before the fire, 300 other prisoners had been transferred to the new penal center is in Llanos de Icaco which can accommodate 950 prisoners plus staff.

Armando Medina, director general of the Penitentiary System, reported on his Twitter account, that the fire had been completely suppressed and the transfer of prisoners continued.