At least 129 people have d!ed in an attempted jailbreak from the Makala Central Prison in Congo.
Gunfire reportedly began from inside the prison at around midnight on Sunday, September 1, into Monday morning.
Videos circulating online show bodies lying on the floor, many of them with visible injuries.
Other videos also show inmates carrying people, who appeared to be de@d, into a vehicle.
There are reports that most d!ed from a stampede.
Announcing the number of casualties in a statement on X, Jacquemin Shabani, Congolese interior minister, said the escape attempt led to deaths and significant material damage.
He added that apart from those k!lled, 59 were injured and taken into care by the government, while some women were r@ped.
“On the instructions of the High Hierarchy, I have called a crisis meeting with the heads of the defence and security services,” the statement reads.
“The provisional toll is 129 de@d, including 24 by gunfire, after warning, the other victims having d!ed by jostling or suffoc@tion.
“The administrative buildings, the registry, the infirmary, and the food depots were destroyed by fire.
“The Government is pleased with the return to calm, deplores these tragic events, and offers its condolences to the families of the victims.
“Investigations are continuing and the public will be informed.”
Makala is Congo’s largest penitentiary. The facility has recorded previous jailbreaks, including in 2017 when an attack by a religious sect freed dozens.
Watch different videos from the scene below.
Several people have reportedly been killed during an attempted jailbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo. Gunshots rang out overnight at Makala prison in Kinshasa. It’s the country’s largest incarceration facility and has long been dangerously overcrowded. pic.twitter.com/nz3XeXIaA6
— African News feed. (@africansinnews) September 3, 2024
#RDC: La situation à la prison centrale de Makala. Plusieurs morts, plusieurs blessés. Les autorités à tous les niveaux tentent de savoir ce qui s’est réellement passé et certaines pensent à un “sabotage”. “Voir le timing, le Chef de l’État est à l’étranger, la PM et plusieurs… pic.twitter.com/5VlUHFeteQ
— Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala (@StanysBujakera) September 2, 2024
#Kinshasa
Tentative d’évasion à la #prison centrale de #Makala cette nuit , plusieurs corps de prisonniers retrouvés sans vie depuis ce matin et le bilan est lourd et donne la chaire de poule, contrairement aux allégations de la @rtncofficielle1 .
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/HRB3Vawv2i— 🇨🇩🇷🇺Слава Дубука кангуди🇷🇺🇨🇩 (@G_Dubuka) September 2, 2024
#Kinshasa
Tentative d’évasion à la #prison centrale de #Makala cette nuit , plusieurs corps de prisonniers retrouvés sans vie depuis ce matin et le bilan est lourd et donne la chaire de poule, contrairement aux allégations de la @rtncofficielle1 .
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/HRB3Vawv2i— 🇨🇩🇷🇺Слава Дубука кангуди🇷🇺🇨🇩 (@G_Dubuka) September 2, 2024
#AskNigerians @AskNigerians
