Sharjah 24 – AFP: At least 51 inmates were killed and two dozen more injured early Tuesday after a fire broke out during a prison riot in southwestern Colombia, the national prisons agency said.

The tragedy occurred when rioting inmates set a fire at around 2:00 am to try to prevent police entering their enclosure at the prison in the city of Tulua, said Tito Castellanos, director of the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC).

The prison, which holds more than 1,200 inmates, was surrounded by police and soldiers.

By late morning, no bodies had been removed from the prison.

Outside the prison, dozens of family members gathered hoping for information on their loved ones.

A prison official gave an initial list of survivors to those waiting.

Authorities had initially said they were investigating whether the incident occurred as part of an escape attempt but later said it was a riot.

There were 180 inmates in the prison section affected by fire.

Castellanos praised the efforts of prison guards to control the blaze and help prisoners to safety.

Forensics experts are trying to identify the victims.

Outgoing President Ivan Duque sent a tweet offering his solidarity with relatives of the victims.

President-elect Gustavo Petro also expressed his sympathies and said on Twitter that there needed to be "a complete rethinking of prison policy" that takes into account "prisoner dignity."