A prison fire in a northeastern Argentine city killed at least 29 people, authorities said today.
Many of the deaths were caused by asphyxiation as inmates were overcome by smoke, the justice minister for the Santiago del Estero province said.
Local media reports said fighting between inmates broke out yesterday after prisoners set fire to mattresses and other furniture in what officials said appeared to be an attempt by some convicts to escape.
Outside, women shouted insults at police who set up barricades to keep back relatives who arrived at the prison.
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Police later fired tear gas and rubber bullets on dozens of relatives massed outside the prison, it was reported.