A large number of the prisoners in the Vught PI were evacuated last Saturday evening. A fire had started in a laundry room. That had major consequences. 132 inmates were evacuated from a regular prison wing. They have been taken to other prisons in the country.
It is not yet clear how the fire in the laundry room started, but the consequences were major for the regular prison wing. The fire could be extinguished by the fire brigade. This caused significant flooding. It therefore turned out not to be safe to leave all 162 prisoners in their cells. Another accommodation had to be found for 132 prisoners outside the Vught PI.
Big job
Prison employees worked all night to move the detainees. Around seven o’clock on Sunday morning, the last prisoners were taken to another prison outside Vught.
As far as we know, the evacuation went well and did not lead to any further problems. Branch director Carla Wijnhoven speaks of a mega job during the Pentecost weekend. “Everyone worked extremely hard. By colleagues in Vught, in other institutions and by the Transport and Support Service. The detainees involved were full of understanding and cooperated excellently. I am extremely proud of everyone and happy with the pleasant and professional cooperation.”
The operation lasted all evening and night. The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade. It is not yet possible to say how extensive the water damage is and it is still unclear when the prisoners can return to their cells in Vught.
