Riot erupts at prison colony in southern Kazakhstan

MOSCOW

Inmates at a prison colony in southern Kazakhstan staged a riot on Saturday, igniting a fire during an inspection for drugs and other contraband, according to the country's Committee of the Penitentiary System (CPS).

In a statement, the committee said the situation in the colony, located in the country's Turkestan region, had stabilized, noting that the CPS' chairman had arrived at the site, along with personnel of the National Guard and supervisory authorities.

Media outlet Orda.kz reported that the incident occurred in colony No. 55 in the city of Lange, saying that the inspection for drugs had sparked unrest among the convicts, who set fire to an electric transformer.

About 400 prisoners participated in the riot, in the total of more than 700 being held at the colony.