Riot and fire at Venezuelan jail kills 68 people

A riot and fire that broke out Wednesday in overcrowded cells at a Venezuelan police station killed 68 people. Officials said the casualties included 66 men and two women at the station in the town of Valencia. Prosecutor Tarek William Saab said authorities appointed four prosecutors to determine what caused the deaths. Saab said the public ministry will ensure “a thorough investigation to immediately shed light on the painful events that have put dozens of Venezuelan families in mourning.” Violence and riots at Venezuelan jails have increased amid the country’s economic crisis as detainees complain of overcrowded cells and limited food. The Venezuelan Prisons Observatory said it repeatedly warned of worsening conditions as security officials kept detainees longer than the two- to three-day holding period.