Scenes of chaos unfolded last night at the Central Prison. Around 10:00 p.m., three inmates set fire to their cells, which are located in a maximum-security wing, as well as to the hallway where ten other inmates are being held.

An alarm was immediately sounded. An order was given to evacuate the wing. Firefighters who arrived at the scene battled to contain the fire so it would not spread to other areas.

The cause of the arson—according to reports—is that they were not given permission to watch the World Cup final.

READ ALSO: “Overcrowding Exceeds 200%”: PASYDY Issues SOS After Prison Fire, Calls for Immediate Decongestion

“A prison staff member was taken to the hospital as a precaution due to smoke inhalation. The inmates were temporarily transferred to another wing. The circumstances under which the fire broke out are under investigation.”
Ministry of Justice

The fire destroyed mattresses and caused serious damage to the wing’s common areas.

Strong Reactions

PASYDY and the prison staff union are up in arms over the latest serious incidents in prisons and are requesting a meeting with the Minister of Justice to address the problems they face.

“PASYDY and the Prison Staff Union are once again calling for the immediate implementation of the necessary measures to reinforce staffing levels and ensure safe working conditions, so that our colleagues can carry out their work without hindrance. For example, the occupancy rate at the Central Prisons exceeds 200%.
PASYDY – Prison Staff Branch

In addition to the prison guard who was taken to the hospital with respiratory problems, first aid was also provided to a second staff member. The police are reviewing security camera footage that captured the events.

SEE ALSO: Fire breaks out in five prison cells simultaneously, causing extensive damage

Watch Katerina Ioannou’s report: