Politics · Indonesia · 3 days ago
Merauke prison fire contained, escaped inmates recaptured
A suspected fire broke out at Merauke Class IIB prison in South Papua on October 9.
The fire was put out, and Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections says the prison is under control and daily life has returned to normal.
Some inmates escaped during the incident.
Police said 33 inmates who fled had been caught and returned to the prison.
The incident followed a phone search by prison staff, and police said staff and inmates had a dispute.
Police are still investigating how the fire started and what led to the dispute.
Officials have not given further details about the cause.
The fire at Merauke Class IIB Prison in South Papua was extinguished and the situation was reported under control on Friday, October 9.
Immigration and Corrections Inspector General Rudi Setiawan said prison life had returned to normal.
Authorities said inmates who escaped had been recaptured and returned to the prison.
Detik reported that 33 inmates were captured after escaping.
Police said the fire was believed to have started inside the prison following a dispute between staff and inmates after a mobile-phone inspection.
- Who
- Merauke prison inmates escaped; authorities said some were recaptured and returned.
- What
- A fire at the prison was extinguished and the situation was reported under control.
- When
- Friday, October 9, 2026.
- Where
- Merauke Class IIB Prison, South Papua, Indonesia.
- Why
- Police said the fire was believed to have been caused by inmates amid a dispute with prison staff after a mobile-phone inspection.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Merauke Class IIB Prison was reported to be on fire, and police went to the site to secure it.
Authorities said the fire had been extinguished, the situation was under control, and some escaped inmates had been returned.
- Prison
- Class IIB Merauke Prison, South Papua
- Fire status
- Extinguished; situation reported under control
- Recaptured inmates
- 33, according to Detik
- Reported trigger
- Mobile-phone inspection followed by a dispute between staff and inmates
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