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Picture for illustrative purposes only. Image Credit: Reuters

Cairo: A fire erupted on Thursday inside a prison in the Saudi capital Riyadh, killing three inmates, authorities said.

Twenty-one others were injured in the blaze in Al Malaz Prison in Riyadh, Saudi state television Al Ekhabriya reported, quoting a prison official.

“An investigation is under way into the incident to determine its cause and take the legal procedures, a spokesman for the Prisons Direcorate added.

The fire broke out at dawn at the Ward 7 of the prison, prompting evacuation of its inmates and transporting those injured to hospital, Okaz newspaper reported online.

The blaze was brought under control before it could extend to other parts and buildings in the prison, according to the report.