16 injured as inmates set Kentucky prison on fire

Burgin (Kentucky, US), Aug.23 (ANI): Rioting inmates set fire to a Kentucky prison in the US on Friday night-Saturday morning, damaging six buildings and causing minor injuries to eight staff members and eight prisoners.

A spokesperson for Kentucky Department of Corrections said that no one had been admitted to hospital as a result of the disturbance at the medium security Northpoint Training Center.

Twelve hundred inmates deemed high security were bussed to another undisclosed facility whilst firefighters tackled the blaze.

By early Saturday morning, firefighters had extinguished the fires at the prison located in a rural area 30 miles south of Lexington.

The Associated Press news agency said officers in riot gear rushed the prisoners with tear gas about 9 p.m. Friday, and all the inmates were subdued in less than two hours.

Among the buildings burnt were a kitchen, medical center, canteen and visitation area.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear praised corrections officials and state police for handling the situation without any serious injuries. (ANI)