Nearly 130 dead following escape attempt from DRC's largest prison

 

“The provisional death toll is 129, 24 of whom were shot after being summoned, while the other victims died as a result of being jostled or suffocated. There are also 59 wounded who are being treated by the government, as well as several cases of women who were raped”, he adds. This report follows a crisis meeting with the heads of the defense and security services.

 

The administrative buildings, the registry, the infirmary and the food depots were destroyed by fire, according to the Minister of the Interior.

 

The incident occurred on Sunday nightat Kinshasa's Makala prison. Several inmates attempted to escape, after which the security forces intervened. Gunshots were heard nearby. The exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear.

 

In the meantime, the situation at the prison has returned to normal, according to the authorities, who gave no details of any prisoners who had managed to escape.

 

 “Investigations are continuing”, they said.

 

Makala prison, which has a capacity of 1,500 but is severely overcrowded, houses between 14,000 and 15,000 prisoners, according to official statistics.

 

In 2017, a night attack by armed men led to the escape of over 4,000 inmates.