Fire breaks out at Akaki’s central jail

A fire broke out at Kilinto prison, located in Addis Ababa’s Akaki sub-city Saturday morning. The Addis Ababa fire prevention authority public relation officer, Adane Abraha told Radio Fana that the fire started around 9:10 a.m. at Kilinto, the country’s maximum security section and firefighters were sent immediately to help in the fight. Nine fire-fighting vehicles, two water trucks and ambulances were dispatched by the department. Adane was quoted as saying that the situation had been brought under control and three firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation. It was not immediately clear if inmates injured or died from the blaze. Addis Fortune reported that the inmates are reportedly being moved away from harm’s way, amidst continued gunfire by prison guards and local police, supposedly to prevent any prison breaks.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Kilinto hosts the country’s largest number of political prisoners.