At least 18 inmates have died in prison riots in Honduras

At least 18 inmates have been killed and 16 injured in overnight fighting between inmates in the northern Honduran city of Tela.

The National Institute said on Saturday that 17 inmates had died at the facility in Tela, about 200 kilometers from the capital Tegucigalpa, and another died in hospital, with local media describing the unrest as gang violence.

A prison spokesman, Digna Aguilar, said authorities had to enter the area carefully "for fear of being among the victims" because some inmates had firearms, which slowed the intervention.

The combined national security force known as Fusina said five nine millimeter guns, as well as ammunition, were seized from the prisoners. Prison officials had initially reported only three deaths, but the number quickly rose.

Forensic workers placed the bodies in plastic bags and transported them to the San Pedro Sula forensic morgue for autopsies. /Telegraph/