The Higüey Prison fire occurred on March 7, 2005, at
Higüey Prison in
Higüey
Higüey (), or in full Salvaleón de Higüey, is the capital city of the eastern La Altagracia Province, in the Dominican Republic, and the eighth largest city of that country. The Yuma River (Dominican Republic), Yuma River flows through the urb ...
,
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
.
The prison was claimed to be overcrowded at the time of the fire, housing 400 inmates but designed to house only 180.
In all, 136 prisoners died. Among those killed was Edwin Adams Cotto.
The fire's cause was variously attributed to an inmate riot, guards firing tear gas, or a prisoner setting fire to a mattress.
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References
2005 in the Dominican Republic
2005 crimes in the Dominican Republic
2005 murders in North America
2000s murders in the Dominican Republic
Arson in North America
Mass murder in 2005
Prison fires
Fires in the Dominican Republic
La Altagracia Province
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