Riot in Rio de Janeiro prison

sao paulo - Prisoners in a heavily overpopulated Milton Dias Moreira prison in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have revolted and hold an unknown number of guards and staff members hostage.

The riot police surrounded the building, but in prison the prisoners still have the business on Sunday night. It is unclear whether there have been casualties, reports the regional government.

An estimated 2,000 detainees are in prison. According to official data, the facility accommodates 900 prisoners. The incident is the umpteenth in a series of prison revolts. The Brazilian houses of custody are overcrowded.

Rio is plagued by a wave of violent crime. The dragging economic recession has, among other things, eroded the police by lack of investment. President Michel Temer proposed Friday to place a general at the head of security in the state. He must make the city safer with his troops during 2018. The parliament still has to agree with the measure.