Four victims were reported so far as a result of the Zahle prison fire, NNA Correspondent reported on Friday.

Civil defense personnel use hydraulic shearing machines to rescue the injured.

Heavy army and security forces’ deployment have been registered around the prison building. Civil Defense and Red Cross members worked to transfer the injured to Al-Muallaqa Governmental Hospital in Zahle.

Caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, continued to follow up this afternoon on the Zahle Prison situation, after a number of prisoners set fire inside the prison premises which spread to the building’s upper floors.

To this end, Mawlawi contacted Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, asking for support in protecting the prison’s surroundings. He also contacted Civil Defense Director General, Brigadier General Raymond Khattar, calling for reinforcement to the civil defense units that are working to extinguish the fire and evacuate prisoners from inside the rooms.

Mawlawi also received a call from the Internal Security Director General, Major General Imad Othman, who kept him updated on the latest developments inside the prison.

Meanwhile, the Interior Minister commissioned the Bekaa Governor, Judge Kamal Abu Jaoude, to follow up on field procedures and on-ground developments, especially in terms of evacuating prisoners and treating the injured.

Source: NNA