A gang fight led to the death of at least 41 women in a Honduran prison. It all happened this Tuesday at the Centro Femenino de Adaptación Social (CEFAS). A brawl broke out in the penitentiary center located in Támara, which was reported by the Honduran Public Prosecutor's Office. The agency, through Forensic Medicine, also notified local media of the number of victims:
Initially, we had been given the number of 25 people, but we were told that this was a preliminary number. Now the forensic medicine teams are looking into the people who died and will give us another estimate. They have not finished but they estimate that 41 people have died.
According to initial reports, the fight was between gangs. Barrio 18 members locked up rival Mara Salvatrucha women and then set fire to one of the modules with them inside, causing a massacre in which at least 25 people burned to death. At the same time, other inmates began to shoot other prisoners in other parts of the prison. Sixteen other people were shot or stabbed to death.
At least 41 women died in Honduras during a brawl in the National Female Penitentiary of Social Adaptation, confirmed the Directorate of Forensic Medicine. So far it is known that 25 people were charred to death and 16 were shot.
Al menos 41 mujeres fallecieron en #Honduras durante una reyerta en la Penitenciaría Nacional Femenina de Adaptación Social, confirmó la Dirección de Medicina Forense.
Hasta el momento se sabe que 25 personas murieron carbonizadas y 16 acribilladashttps://t.co/waJ5IFRCeo pic.twitter.com/Qd2Ca5JTK1— David de la Paz 戴维 (@daviddelapaz) June 21, 2023
Honduras Heartbreaking images of family members of the inmates of the Tamara women's prison in Honduras, who were victims of an armed attack by rival gang members.
Honduran media claim that according to witnesses the killers used rifles and set the women on fire.
#Honduras
Desgarradoras imágenes de familiares de las presas de la cárcel de mujeres de Tamara en Honduras, que fueron víctimas de un ataque armado de pandilleras rivales.
Medios hondureños afirman que según testigos las asesinas usaron fusiles y prendieron fuego a las mujeres. pic.twitter.com/ras2pRH8Fs— Noti OccidenteSV (@NOccidente23046) June 21, 2023
The deputy security secretary who is in charge of the country's prison system, Julissa Villanueva, notified officials of vandalism several hours earlier. After confirming what was happening inside the prison, Villanueva said that they would respond to what happened in CEFAS with a "hard hand":
Well, we will crack down on the female prison in Tamara. We will not tolerate vandalism or disorder in this prison. We have authorized immediate intervention with the assistance of firefighters, @PoliciaHonduras and military. An emergency has been declared.
Bueno, acción y reacción mano dura ahora en la cárcel femenina de Támara
No vamos a tolerar actos vandalicos ni tampoco irregularidades en esta cárcel
Se autoriza intervención inmediata con acompañamiento de bomberos, @PoliciaHonduras y militares, se declara emergencia pic.twitter.com/j7fAIKEijV— Dra.Semma Julissa Villanueva B. (@villanuevasemma) June 20, 2023
Honduran President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya said she was "shocked" by what happened in Tamara prison. She also joined Villanueva's statements and confirmed that the government would take action:
I'm shocked by the monstrous murder of women in CEFAS, planned by gangs in front of security guards. My heart goes out to the family members. The Minister of Security and the president of the Intervention Commission will be held accountable. I will take drastic measures!
Conmocionada monstruoso asesinato de mujeres en CEFAS, planificado por maras a vista y paciencia de autoridades de seguridad. Mi solidaridad con familiares. Convoco a rendir cuentas al Ministro de Seguridad y la presidenta de la Comisión Interventora. ¡Tomaré medidas drásticas !
— Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (@XiomaraCastroZ) June 20, 2023
