Vicente del Pedregal

In 2010, 81 inmates died in a huge fire at San Miguel prison in Chile’s capital city Santiago. Inside, they were trapped behind bars like rats; outside, dozens of family members waiting for visiting hours to begin looked on helplessly as their loved ones shouted for help. The doors remained locked. This reconstruction sheds light on the utter failure of the prison’s administration, which was housing twice as many prisoners as permitted.

In 2010, 81 inmates died in a huge fire at San Miguel prison in Chile’s capital city Santiago. Inside, they were trapped behind bars like rats; outside, dozens of family members waiting for visiting hours to begin looked on helplessly as their loved ones shouted for help. The doors remained locked. This reconstruction sheds light on the utter failure of the prison’s administration, which was housing twice as many prisoners as permitted.