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Veteran Expediter
Breaking News - BBC news - December 8 07:14 ET
A fire in a prison in the Chilean capital Santiago has left at least 81 people dead, officials say.
The blaze broke out in the San Miguel prison at 0500 local time (0800 GMT), with television pictures showing smoke billowing from the building.
It was not immediately clear whether all of those killed were prisoners.
Local media said 200 inmates had been evacuated and that at least 19 people were injured in the fire.
There were reports that prison guards had initially prevented firefighters from entering the prison, La Tercera newspaper said
A fire in a prison in the Chilean capital Santiago has left at least 81 people dead, officials say.
The blaze broke out in the San Miguel prison at 0500 local time (0800 GMT), with television pictures showing smoke billowing from the building.
It was not immediately clear whether all of those killed were prisoners.
Local media said 200 inmates had been evacuated and that at least 19 people were injured in the fire.
There were reports that prison guards had initially prevented firefighters from entering the prison, La Tercera newspaper said