At least 41 women lost their lives in a brutal massacre involving burnings, shootings, and machete attacks in a female prison in Honduras. The violence erupted due to violent clashes between rival gangs, which led to a fire engulfing parts of the facility, according to the police.
The riots erupted on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at the prison located in Tamara, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of the capital city of Honduras. President Xiomara Castro revealed that the riot had been "planned by street gangs known as maras," with the knowledge and acquiescence of security authorities.
President Castro vowed to take "drastic measures" but did not provide an explanation regarding how the Barrio 18 gang members, identified as the assailants, managed to acquire guns and machetes inside the prison. They were also able to freely move into an adjacent cell block and carry out the ruthless killings of all the prisoners there.
They then opened the gates to an adjoining cell block and began the massacre of women. A fire was started, leaving the cell walls charred and the beds twisted heaps of metal.
Yuri Mora, the spokesman for Honduras' national police investigation agency, reported that 26 of the victims were burned to death, while the rest were shot or stabbed. At least seven injured inmates were receiving treatment at a hospital in Tegucigalpa.
This riot appears to be the deadliest in a female detention center in Central America since 2017 when a fire set by girls at a troubled youth shelter in Guatemala resulted in the deaths of 41 girls, caused by smoke and flames.
Honduras also witnessed the worst prison disaster in a century in 2012 when 361 inmates died in a fire at the Comayagua penitentiary, potentially triggered by a match, cigarette, or another open flame.
There were prior warnings leading up to this tragedy, as per Johanna Paola Soriano Euceda, who anxiously awaited news about her mother and sister held in the same area as convicted prisoners. Soriano Euceda mentioned that on Sunday, they informed her about the uncontrollable fights with Barrio 18 members.
Unfortunately, that was the last conversation they had.
Officials referred to the killings as a "terrorist act" but also admitted that gangs had essentially taken control of certain sections of the prison. Julissa Villanueva, the head of the prison system, suggested that the riot stemmed from recent efforts by authorities to crack down on illegal activities within the prison walls, viewing Tuesday's violence as a reaction to their actions against organized crime.
She affirmed that they would not retreat in their efforts, stating so in a televised address following the riot.
Gangs show significant power inside Honduran prisons, often establishing their own rules and engaging in the illicit trade of prohibited items. The incident also highlighted the ongoing issue of smuggling guns and other weapons into the prisons, a problem that persists.
As the somber task of identifying the bodies continued, some of which were severely burned, Yuri Mora confirmed that forensic teams involved in the recovery process had confirmed the count of 41 victims.
Azucena Martinez, whose daughter was also incarcerated at the prison, expressed the agonizing uncertainty faced by families, saying, "There are a lot of dead, 41 already. We don't know if our relatives are also in there, dead."
The tragedy has sparked outrage and raised questions about the security measures within the Honduran prison system. Human rights expert Joaquin Mejia emphasized the urgent need to prevent the smuggling of drugs, grenades, and firearms into the facilities, highlighting the failure of previous attempts to address this issue.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the massacre, the focus remains on identifying the victims and understanding how such a horrific incident could occur within the prison walls. Efforts to investigate the root causes and hold those responsible accountable are expected to be at the forefront of discussions in the coming days.
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