Prison fire kills 10 inmates near Chilean capital

A cooking stove overturned during a fight sparks the blaze

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updated 4:18 p.m. ET April 26, 2009

SANTIAGO, Chile - A fire touched off by brawling inmates swept through a Chilean prison Sunday, killing 10 prisoners, officials said.

A cooking stove overturned during the fight sparked the blaze, according to Corrections Service director Alejandro Jimenez.

Two other prisoners were hospitalized with knife wounds, and a third suffered burns.

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"There has been no riot or jailbreak attempt," Jimenez said. "This situation started with a fight and ended with the fire."

Preliminary reports indicate most of the victims died of smoke inhalation, he added. A prison guard was also treated for smoke inhalation but was not seriously harmed.

Authorities were investigating possible charges against prisoners involved in the brawl.

The Colina prison near Santiago, the capital, houses about 3,000 inmates.