A prison fire that killed 134 inmates, one of the deadliest in Latin American prisons, has cast a harsh spotlight on conditions in this country's cells.

The Dominican Republic has the most overcrowded jails in the Western Hemisphere, according to U.N. figures, and the fire early Monday in the eastern city of Higuey happened at one of its worst.

The cellblock where the blaze broke out — known as the Vietnam block — was said to be so packed, inmates were sleeping on top of toilets. To make matters worse, the inmates had guns and knives and easy access to drugs, another notorious feature of prisons here.

Officials gave varying numbers for the overall population of the prison, a confusion illustrating some of the problems with the system. But there appeared to be at least 178 inmates in the block, which had a maximum capacity of 25.

The government ordered an investigation of the fire, which began during a fight among inmates over who would control their drug trade. Guards said when they went to open the door, they found it blocked.

Bodies were later found "piled up on top of each other" at the door, where the inmates died trying to escape, chief firefighter Nestor Vera said.

Just 26 prisoners were rescued, said National Police Chief Manuel de Jesus Perez Sanchez.

The riot began with an earlier disturbance in which one inmate was shot and wounded, said the national prison director, Gen. Ramon de la Cruz Martinez.

Guards broke up that fight, but soon after prisoners began rioting, setting fire to their bedding.

Prisons in the region are notorious for gang fights, breakouts and riots. But none are as crowded as in the Dominican Republic.

The country has 35 prisons built for 9,000 prisoners. Last year they held more than 13,500, the State Department says in a recent human rights report.

PHOTO CAPTION

Red Cross members carry out a coffin from Higuey's Hospital in Higuey 103 miles to the east of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Monday, March 7, 2005. (AP)