Dozens slain in jail battle

CARACAS, Venezuela — At least 37 people were killed during clashes between armed inmates and security forces at a small prison in southern Venezuela, the state’s governor said Wednesday.

Gov. Liborio Guarulla said the bloodshed came after fighting erupted between inmates and their jailers Tuesday night in the prison in Puerto Ayacucho, capital of the sparsely populated Amazonas state. He said security forces raided the facility seeking to restore order in the prison, where the inmates had seized control several weeks ago.

The office of Venezuela’s chief prosecutor said on social media that it was investigating the incident. It said 14 prison guards were also injured.