DR Congo: Over 160 killed in massive escape from Goma’s Munzenze prison Jail Break Ignites Gunfire, Firestorm / VIDEO

On January 27, between 160 and 170 prisoners lost their lives during a massive escape from the Munzenze Central Prison in Goma, North Kivu.

The escape took place amid intense clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels, who were reportedly backed by the Rwandan military, as the latter intensified their offensive to take control of the provincial capital of North Kivu, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Taking advantage of the M23 rebels' entry into Goma, the prisoners orchestrated a large-scale escape. To cover their tracks, they set fire to a significant portion of the prison.

The fire had devastating consequences: at least 141 incarcerated women perished in the blaze, along with 28 young children who had been in detention with their mothers.

Other inmates were shot dead as guards attempted to control the escape, according to a prison official.

One week after the incident, the Munzenze prison is now completely empty. The guards have deserted, and no prisoners remain. A large part of the facility has been destroyed by fire, including the prison administration’s office. The prison was also looted in the wake of the escape.

Prior to the incident, Munzenze Central Prison housed around 4,400 inmates, well beyond its capacity.

By Aghakazim Guliyev