 | |
| Date | 7 December 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | 04:00 CAT |
| Location | Gitega, Burundi |
| Coordinates | 03°25′34″S 29°56′08″E / 3.42611°S 29.93556°E |
| Cause | Electrical failure |
| Deaths | 38 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 69+ |
| Property damage | Unknown |
At approximately 04:00 CAT on 7 December 2021, a fire broke out in an overcrowded prison in Gitega, Burundi, killing at least 38 and injuring more than 69.[1]
Overcrowding is a major problem in Burundi prisons where, according to October figures, 13,100 inmates live in facilities designed to accommodate no more than 4,100 people.[2] In June, over 5000 inmates received presidential pardons in an attempt to empty the country's overcrowded jails.[2]
According to the Christian Association Against Torture, the prison had the capacity for 400 prisoners, but at the time of the fire it held 1,539 inmates.[1] Most of the inmates were males, however, it had a women's wing as well. It also housed several political prisoners in a high security compound. Earlier in August, a fire broke out in the same prison, which the authorities blamed on electrical problems.[3]
The blaze started at 04:00 CAT time (02:00 GMT) on 7 December 2021 while many of the inmates were asleep. The Interior Ministry stated in a tweet that a short circuit was responsible for the fire.[4] According to the survivors, the police refused to open the quarters as the flames spread.[5][1] According to one of the inmates, over 90% of the sleeping halls were burnt.[1] Images circulating online showed a burning building and piles of bodies.[1]
A police source stated that emergency services arrived late with the fire truck reaching the prison two hours after the fire began.[3] Nurses from the Gitega hospital, as well as teams from the Red Cross, arrived at the scene to tend to the victims.[6] Those with minor injuries were treated at the scene, while those with severe burns were taken to a hospital.[3][1] Vice President Prosper Bazombanza told reporters that 38 people died in the fire.[7]
Of these, twelve died of asphyxia as they attempted to flee the burning building and 26 more died of severe injuries. Many of the victims were elderly inmates.[8] He added that at least 69 were injured.[5]
Vice President Bazombanza, along with several senior ministers visited the scene of the accident.[5] According to witness reports, soldiers and police officers surrounded the site of the fire, preventing journalists from approaching and taking pictures.[3]