At least five inmates killed in riot at high-security Venezuelan prison

• At least five inmates killed after a riot erupted at the high-security Yare prison complex outside Caracas, Venezuela, officials say.

At least five prisoners were killed in a riot at a high-security prison in Venezuela, officials said on Tuesday, highlighting ongoing instability in the country’s overcrowded and often violent prison system.

The deaths occurred at the Yare prison complex, located about 70 kilometers outside the capital Caracas, when fighting between inmates escalated into a full-scale riot, according to a statement from the Ministry of Prison Services.

The ministry identified the five deceased inmates and said the public prosecutor’s office had launched an investigation. No additional details were provided, including the number of injured.

Venezuela’s prison system has long faced criticism over severe overcrowding, poor security conditions, and the influence of criminal gangs that control parts of several facilities.

Former president Nicolás Maduro ordered a military operation in 2023 to regain control of major prisons after dozens of inmates were transferred to Yare III. The Yare complex consists of three separate facilities, with Yare II known for holding political prisoners.

Following political changes in January, when a new US-backed administration came to power after Maduro’s ouster, at least 46 political prisoners linked to the oil sector were released last week from the facility, according to an AFP team.