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Christmas fire guts part of Rwanda's prison

Xinhua, December 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

A fire razed one room at Rwanda's Nyarugenge Prison in Kigali on Sunday, causing minor injuries, authorities said.

Hillary Sengabo, Senior Inspector of Prisons (SIP) at Rwanda Correctional Services said the burnt room accommodated 68 inmates.

He said rescue efforts by army and police were there in time to put out the fire before it spread.

Rwanda's Minister of justice, Johnston Busingye who oversees prisons said the affected area was estimated at 2o square meters occupied by about 15 inmates.

He added that their mattresses and other personal effects were destroyed in the afternoon fire.

There is no report of loss of life as inmates were alerted by gun shots in the air, Minister Busingye said.

The cause of the fire was not readily established.

Authorities said some three inmates were injured and were receiving treatment.

This is the second fire incident in Rwanda's prison in recent times, the earlier one having taken place at Muhanga prison in 2014.

Nyarugenge prison has 3,127 inmates, according to authorities. Endit