| Date | August 23, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Location | Palmasola, Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| Cause | Gang rivalry |
| Deaths | 31 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 37 (serious) |
On August 23, 2013, a prison riot broke out at Palmasola, a maximum-security prison in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The riot started when members of one cell block attacked a rival gang in another, using propane tanks as flame throwers. Thirty-one people were killed, including an 18-month-old child who was living at the prison. Thirty-seven others were seriously injured. The riot led to calls for reform in the Bolivian prison system, which is plagued by overcrowding and long delays in the trial system.