Venezuela confirms 13 deaths from drug overdoses in prison disturbance

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela's government says 13 prisoners have died of drug overdoses and a further 145 are being treated for intoxication after inmates stormed an infirmary amid disturbances at a major corrections facility.

The disturbances at the David Voloria penitentiary began Monday when a group of inmates declared a hunger strike to demand better living conditions and force out the jail's new warden.

National Guardsmen were called in to restore calm and dozens of prisoners were transferred.

While the situation remains tense the government said in a statement late Wednesday night that the situation remains under control and all prisoners' rights are being respected.

The facility in western Lara state was the site in 2013 of one of Venezuela's deadliest prison clashes in which 58 guards and inmates were killed.