Al-Jadida prison blaze: 49 dead, 89 injured, new toll; ngos press for investigation

The fire that raged at a jail in Al-Jadida (200 km south Rabat) has claimed the lives of 49 inmates and injured 89 others, according to a new toll by local authorities.

The fire started in building 5 around 1:30 am, and the smoke spread in the neighboring pavilion, lethally asphyxiating 50 inmates, firemen said, adding that the blaze was contained at 3:00 am.

Minister of justice, Omar Azzimane, told the press an investigation was opened to determine the causes and circumstances of the disaster, adding that all measures were taken to assist the victims' families and bring the necessary help and assistance to the injured.

The official along with outgoing Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, and incumbent Prime Minister Driss Jettou, were dispatched to site of tragedy by King Mohammed VI.

The Moroccan Human Rights Organization (OMDH), called for entrusting the investigation to persons known for their honesty and courage and urged for sanctions against those who would be found responsible for the tragedy.

Abderrahim Jamai, President of the Moroccan Jails Observatory (independent), termed the Al-Jadida incident as the most tragic incident in the history of jails in Morocco.

The incident "is certainly the result of poor maintenance of jails," he deplored.

The governor of Al-Jadida, Mohamed Fassi Fihri, on Friday said the fire was not a major one and that the deaths were caused by suffocation, stemming from thick smoke.