MOSCOW, January 26 (RIA Novosti) - More than 50 people were killed in a prison riot in Venezuela’s west on Friday, media reported Saturday citing health officials.

The BBC quoted Prisons Minister Iris Varela as saying the riot was triggered when news was broadcast by local media that soldiers had been sent to Uribana prison in Barquisimeto to search for weapons.

The death toll included inmates, guards and prison workers.

Al Jazeera reported that 88 people were injured. Most of those injured suffered gunshot wounds, said Ruy Medina, a hospital official.