Congo prison break: Deadly chaos leaves over 120 dead

A prison break in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, has reportedly left at least 129 people dead and 59 injured.

The incident occurred late Sunday night as prisoners attempted to escape from the Makala Central Prison.

The government reported that a fire broke out in the prison’s administrative building, food depots, and hospital, contributing to the chaos.

According to a statement by Interior Minister Shabani Lukoo, the situation is now under control. However, the mass escape attempt resulted in substantial casualties and material damage.

Initial reports indicated that prisoners had attempted to break out around 2:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Sunday, with some accounts suggesting heavy gunfire and prisoners outside the prison walls.

While the government had earlier reported that no prisoners had successfully escaped, an investigation into the incident is underway.

(Source: Reuters)