Fire in Chile prison kills 81 inmates

A fire killed at least 81 prisoners in Chile early Wednesday as flames swept through a jail in the capital Santiago, police said.

Police Colonel Jaime Concha said 14 inmates were also injured in the fire at the San Miguel prison, which broke out in the early hours in a wing of the prison.

"We don\'t yet have the identities" of the deceased inmates, Concha told reporters, adding that rescue crews were still working at the scene.

Health Minister Jaime Manalich told local radio that some of the injured were in serious condition and had been transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Television images showed a large number of police surrounding the area in the south central section of Santiago, and relatives waiting outside for news.

Officials said the deaths were most likely caused by suffocation during the blaze.