Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

Newsflash

This footage shows inmates in a Chilean prison rioting after one of them tested positive for Coronavirus.

The riot took place in the prison of the city of Puente Alto in the province of Cordillera in central Chile and reports state the inmates started fires inside the facility.

According to local media, one of the more than 1,000 inmates showed symptoms of having coronavirus and then tested positive for the disease.

Local media report unrest then spread through the other inmates after they were told their fellow prisoner had tested positive and the cells needed to be disinfected.

Reports state the prisoners were unhappy that the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus were not sufficient.

The footage shows the interior of the prison during the riot, with several beds destroyed and other pieces of furniture smashed to pieces while prisoners shout and record the scene.

One prisoner is heard saying; “We are humans and we have dignity like any other person who is free in the streets.”

Reports said the unrest was stopped by the police who used tear gas to put an end to the riot.

The local authorities confirmed there were 26 prisoners injured in the incident and no deaths.

The Director of the prison Jose Provoste told local media: “They got nervous because of this and they made a fuss but it did not become a full-scale riot. We called the firefighters as prevention because they were throwing some paper which was on fire.”

The infected prisoner is currently in quarantine while another 20 prisoners who had contact with him were also isolated, according to reports.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.