Istanbul prison fire leaves at least 11 inmates hospitalized

A general view of Istanbul’s Uskudar Umraniye district where a fire broke out at Umrainye prison on Friday leaving over 11 inmates hospitalized with smoke inhalation. (Shutterstock)

• The cause of the blaze in Umraniye prison, on the Asian side of the city, wasn't immediately known

ISTANBUL: A fire broke out at a prison in Istanbul on Friday, leaving at least 11 inmates hospitalized with smoke inhalation, a Turkish broadcaster reported.
The cause of the blaze in Umraniye prison, on the Asian side of the city, wasn’t immediately known. The prison has a capacity to hold 1,000 inmates, according to its website.
Several firetrucks were dispatched to the prison, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
The broadcaster HaberTurk said none of the inmates were in serious condition.
Video footage from the private DHA news agency showed at least two ambulances and a prison transport vehicle enter the gates of the prison compound as gray smoke was seen billowing from behind a building.
It also showed a firefighter using a water cannon at the top of ladder to douse the fire.