Inmates' relatives push police's shields outside a prison where there was a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andres Quintero)Police investigators prepare to enter a jail where a fatal fire broke out in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 49 people were killed after the broke out inside the prison during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Inmates' relatives wait for news of their loved ones outside a jail where there was a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 49 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Police stand guard as inmates' relatives gather outside a prison after there was a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andres Quintero)Inmates' relatives break a window at a prison where a deadly fire broke out in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andres Quintero)Inmates' relatives clash with police at the entrance of a prison where there was a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andres Quintero)Inmates' relatives confront police outside a prison where there was a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andres Quintero)A woman cries as she waits for news of inmates after a deadly prison fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Police detain a man as the relatives of inmates push through a police perimeter after a deadly prison fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Police detain a man as the relatives of inmates push through a police perimeter after a deadly prison fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Inmates' relatives embrace outside the jail where there was a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 49 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)A woman reads a list of inmates who survived a deadly fire at a jail in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 49 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Relatives gather outside the jail after a fatal fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)A woman and child wait outside a jail for inmate status after a deadly fire at the prison in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 49 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Jail officials and security forces gather outside a jail that suffered a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Relatives listen to a police officer reading a list of surviving inmates after a fatal fire at a jail in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 49 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Police block access to a jail that was the site of a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)Police Col. Wilson Silva reads a list of surviving inmates to relatives gathered outside a jail after a fatal fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 49 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Juan Jose Horta)
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Inmates' relatives push police's shields outside a prison where there was a deadly fire in Tulua, Colombia, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Authorities say at least 51 people were killed after the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andres Quintero)
BOGOTA – A fire at a prison in southwestern Colombia has killed at least 51 people and injured more than 20 others, authorities said Tuesday.
The director of the national prison system, Tito Castellanos, told Radio Caracol that it's not clear if all of the dead were prisoners. He initially said 49 had died, but the Justice Ministry later raised the toll to 51.
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He said the fire broke out during what appeared to be an attempted riot early Tuesday at the medium security prison in the city of Tulua.
But Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz said two inmates had a fight and one of them set fire to his mattress, starting the fire.
Ruiz added that more than 20 inmates were being treated for injuries in hospital, and said that two prison guards sustained minor injuries.
President Iván Duque expressed condolences to the families of those who died and said he had ordered investigations into the cause.
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