Prison riots break out across Argentina sparked by anger over conditions and coronavirus fears
- Videos show a prison on fire, prisoners on roofs and running riot in corridors
- Prisoners say conditions are poor, with too many people crammed into cells
- This is likely to accelerate the spread of the coronavirus in the prisons
- One prison break has been stopped, but another continues to rage on
- So far, one prisoner has been stabbed to death during the riots
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Several prison riots have taken place across Argentina that were sparked by the poor conditions prisoners are living in amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The two biggest riots took place in the cities of Florencio Varela in the eastern Argentine province of Buenos Aires and in the city of Coronda in the north-eastern province of Santa Fe, according to reports.
The first clip shows a building on fire at the Unidad Penitenciaria No.1 in the city of Coronda as prisoners climb on the roof in a bid to escape.
Prisoners can be seen on the roof of the prison in Coronda, North-eastern province of Santa Fe. A fire rages from within the prison as smoke rises
According to local media, guards managed to stop the attempted prison break by firing warning shots from the control towers.
However, one prisoner was reportedly stabbed to death during the riot and the incident is being investigated by the authorities.
A map showing Argentina the location of where the two largest prison riots are happening. The Coronda riot has been brought under control, but the one in Florencio Varela still rages
Another video shows a riot at the Unidad No.54 prison in the city of Florencio Varela where several prisoners reportedly got out of their cells and took control of corridors.
According to reports, the local authorities have so far been unable to control the riot at Unidad No.54.
In a video taken by a prisoner inside Unidad No.54, inmates can be seen banging on gates and wielding what appear to be makeshift spears or clubs fashioned from what they could get their hands on inside the prison.
Prisoners bang on gates and wield makeshift weapons as they take control of a prison in the city of Florencio Varela, Argentina
Videos from inside third prison in Las Flores, which is also in the province of Santa Fe located in the north-east of the country, show prisoners battling with authorities attempting to get the riots under control.
A prisoner uses a mattress as a shield against anti-riot weapons as prisoners take control of corridors. Other prisoners hide behind cabinet doors in a prison in Las Flores
Using mattresses as shields and hurling objects down the corridor, prisoners can also be seen hiding behind walls to cabinet doors to shield themselves from what sound like anti-riot guns being fired back at them.
Local media said that the prison authorities recently imposed measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the temporary suspension of family visits.
However, a prisoner named Juan from Bouwer prison in the province of Cordoba said on social media: ‘I sleep with eight men in a cell where there is room for four.
‘Prison workers do not wear masks or gloves. We are demanding toiletries and food we normally don’t get or is only half-cooked.’
Prison official Walter Galvez told local media: ‘Packages of food and hygiene products will arrive at the prisons between Wednesday and Friday.’
Argentina currently has 387 confirmed coronavirus cases and 6 deaths recorded, according to figures from the Johns Hopkins coronavirus resource centre.