TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Institute of Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) recorded at least 13 prisons were engulfed in fire in the past three years with the latest happening at the Tangerang Penitentiary.

Ten of the 13 prisons share one thing in common: Overcrowding. Citing Koran Tempo’s September 10 edition, here are the 13 prison fires in Indonesia for the past three years.

1. Bukit Tinggi Class A Penitentiary

This facility reported a short circuit on January 21, 2019, which caused a fire. It also logged 132 percent overcapacity where 562 inmates were detained in a facility designed to accommodate 242.

2. Siak Sri Indrapura Class B Penitentiary

On May 11, 2019, this penitentiary was engulfed in flames following a prison riot. Designed for 128 inmates but was detaining 145.

3. Class A Langkat Narcotics Penitentiary

A fire broke out in this facility on May 16, 2019, following a riot. The overcapacity reached 62 percent with 1,478 inmates detained in a facility for 915.

4. Pidie Aceh Class IIB Penitentiary

Yet again, the cause of the fire was due to a riot on June 3, 2019, as 245 inmates were forced to live in a facility designed to imprison 122.

5. Sorong Class IIB Penitentiary

On August 20, 2019, a riot broke out that was followed by a fire. This facility’s issue on overcrowding was proven to be too much for the inmates as there were 574 inmates in a facility designed for 163.

6. Palu Class III Women’s Penitentiary

It was reported that the fire in this facility was intentionally caused by inmates on September 29, 2021. A total of 165 inmates were held in a facility for 102.

7. Women’s Tanjunggusta Medan Penitentiary

An explosion that came from a gas stove on December 1, 2019, engulfed the facility that housed 3,000 inmates but was designed to only detain 1,054 inmates.

8. Kabanjahe Penitentiary

On February 12, 2020, a riot broke out and eventually caused a fire. It was designed to accommodate 189 inmates but actually contained 193.

9. Class II Manado Penitentiary

A fire broke out in this facility on April 11, 2020, following a prison riot. It was designed for 292 inmates but actually housed 490 people.

10. Class IIA Purwokerto Penitentiary

An electrical short circuit sparked fire on October 29, 2020. This penitentiary faced 20 percent overcapacity as it housed 584 inmates in a facility for 488 people.

11. Meulaboh Class IIB Penitentiary

A fire yet again was sparked by an electrical short circuit on June 24, 2020. This housed 548 inmates in a facility for 500.

12. Kotapinang Class III Penitentiary

The penitentiary designed to house 93 people was filled with 292 inmates. A fire broke out on June 19, 2020, but the source of the fire remains unknown.

13. Class I Tangerang Penitentiary

The public was shocked after news came out on September 8, 2021 after this prison caught fire. A total of 44 inmates were killed in this incident with some reportedly still locked in their cells during the incident. The facility is designed to only accommodate 600 inmates but housed 2,094 inmates.

Read: Jakarta Legal Aid Calls for Full Investigation into Prison Fire Tragedy

AMELIA RAHIMA SARI