At approximately 04:00 CAT on 7 December 2021, a fire broke out in an overcrowded prison in Gitega, Burundi, killing at least 38 and injuring more than 69.^[1]

This article may be excessively based on contemporary reporting. (March 2024)

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Gitega prison fire

Date	7 December 2021
Time	04:00 CAT
Location	Gitega, Burundi
Coordinates	03°25′34″S 29°56′08″E
Cause	Electrical failure
Deaths	38
Non-fatal injuries	69+
Property damage	Unknown

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Overcrowding is a major problem in Burundi prisons where, according to October figures, 13,100 inmates live in facilities designed to accommodate no more than 4,100 people.^[2] In June, over 5000 inmates received presidential pardons in an attempt to empty the country's overcrowded jails.^[2]

According to the Christian Association Against Torture, the prison had the capacity for 400 prisoners, but at the time of the fire it held 1,539 inmates.^[1] Most of the inmates were males, however, it had a women's wing as well. It also housed several political prisoners in a high security compound. Earlier in August, a fire broke out in the same prison, which the authorities blamed on electrical problems.^[3]

The blaze started at 04:00 CAT time (02:00 GMT) on 7 December 2021 while many of the inmates were asleep. The Interior Ministry stated in a tweet that a short circuit was responsible for the fire.^[4] According to the survivors, the police refused to open the quarters as the flames spread.^[5][1] According to one of the inmates, over 90% of the sleeping halls were burnt.^[1] Images circulating online showed a burning building and piles of bodies.^[1]

A police source stated that emergency services arrived late with the fire truck reaching the prison two hours after the fire began.^[3] Nurses from the Gitega hospital, as well as teams from the Red Cross, arrived at the scene to tend to the victims.^[6] Those with minor injuries were treated at the scene, while those with severe burns were taken to a hospital.^[3][1] Vice President Prosper Bazombanza told reporters that 38 people died in the fire.^[7]

Of these, twelve died of asphyxia as they attempted to flee the burning building and 26 more died of severe injuries. Many of the victims were elderly inmates.^[8] He added that at least 69 were injured.^[5]

Vice President Bazombanza, along with several senior ministers visited the scene of the accident.^[5] According to witness reports, soldiers and police officers surrounded the site of the fire, preventing journalists from approaching and taking pictures.^[3]

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