International Desk: Authorities on Wednesday raised to 15 the death toll from a gunfight the previous day inside a lockup near Panama City in United States and fired top penitentiary officials amid an investigation into what touched off the country's deadliest incident of prison violence, reports AP.
Panama President Laurentino Cortizo ordered the dismissal of prisons director Walter Hernández and Hernández's No. 2, as well as other officials responsible for police guard at La Joyita prison and another one nearby.
The Interior Department added in a report that nine wounded prisoners remained hospitalized, including one in critical condition.
Tuesday’s gunbattle took place between incarcerated members of the same gang at a cellblock housing over 500 inmates.
Cellphone videos that circulated on social media showed prisoners running and shooting. Police later seized various handguns and Kalashnikov rifles that had been apparently smuggled in.
Although gangs have less of a presence in Panama than in other Central American nations such as El Salvador and Honduras.
