The blaze began within the early hours of Wednesday morning native time in Block C of Tangerang Prison, in Banten province, in keeping with Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus.
Yusri stated firefighters stopped the hearth from spreading to different blocks within the jail and battled the flames for 2 hours earlier than it was extinguished.
An investigation into the reason for the hearth is ongoing however Yusri stated they initially suspect {an electrical} brief circuit is in charge.
Rika Aprianti, spokeswoman of the jail division of the legislation and human rights ministry, stated authorities had been nonetheless evacuating the power and “the cause is under investigation.”
The block housed inmates being held for drug-related offenses and had a capability for 122 individuals, she stated. She didn’t say how many individuals had been current when the hearth broke out, however confirmed the jail was overcrowded.
The jail in Tangerang, an industrial and manufacturing hub close to Jakarta, housed greater than 2,000 inmates, excess of its 600 individuals capability, in keeping with authorities information as of September.
Kompas TV confirmed footage of firefighters attempting to place out enormous flames from the highest of a constructing. The broadcaster reported 41 individuals had died and eight had been severely injured.
Indonesia’s Metro TV cited a police report saying that 73 individuals additionally had mild accidents.