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A massive fire swept through an overcrowded prison in Honduras and killed at least 357 people, including many inmates trapped inside their cells, officials said on Wednesday.

Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world, according to the United Nations, and there are frequent riots and clashes between members of rival street gangs in its overcrowded prisons.

The attorney general's office said at least 357 people died in the blaze that began late on Tuesday night at the prison in Comayagua, about 75 km north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

It was one of the worst prison fires ever in Latin America, and local radio reports said many of the inmates were burned to death inside their cells.

Honduras is plagued by violent gangs known as "maras", which started in the United States and then spread down into Central America, with members covered in distinctive tattoos.

Soldiers, police and anxious relatives surrounded the Comayagua prison, which housed more than 800 inmates - well above its capacity.

Local firemen said they were prevented from entering the prison due to gunshots. But

Daniel Orellana, head of the prison system, said there was no riot.

"We have two hypotheses, one is that a prisoner set fire to a mattress and the other one is that there was a short circuit in the electrical system," he said.

Questions:

1. How many people have died?

2. Honduras holds the record for the world’s highest number of what?

3. What is the name given to the violent gangs who plague Honduras?

Answers:

1. 357

2. Murder

3. Maras

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點(diǎn)津 Rosy 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.