National prison police director Luis Masferrer said the blaze broke out at about 5:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. EST; 1230 GMT) at the San Miguel prison south of the capital, and it was brought under control three hours later.[break]
Hundreds of anxious relatives of inmates gathered outside the prison gates. Some told state television that prison police had closed the gates to the prison, impeding access for firemen.
Police operations director Jaime Concha insisted that police had acted quickly despite coping with a prison population of 1,900 inmates.
The prison was built for 700.
Authorities have not said why so many inmates died or how long it took firefighters to enter the part of the prison where the blaze began, Tower 5.
Health Minister Jaime Manalich came to the prison and told reporters that 81 inmates and died and 14 others were so badly burned that their fate is uncertain. He said a firefighter and three guards were less seriously hurt.
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