'Dozens killed in Venezuela prison riot'

2013-01-26 08:12

(Supplied)

Caracas - Venezuelan media are reporting that dozens have been killed in a bloody prison riot, and the government says it is investigating.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro called the violence tragic early on Saturday on television and said the authorities launched an investigation.

He and other officials did not give a death toll from the riot at Uribana prison in the central city of Barquisimeto.

The newspaper Ultimas Noticias reported on its website that 54 were killed. The television channel Globovision reported about 50 killed.

Both cited Ruy Medina, the director of Central Hospital in the city. The hospital also said that dozens were hurt.

- AP