Cremona prison inmate dies following fire at Ca' del Ferro

A 39-year-old inmate has died at Niguarda Hospital in Milan following a fire at the Ca' del Ferro prison in Cremona. The man, who suffered third-degree burns and respiratory failure, had been hospitalized for eleven days after the incident occurred on July 30.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Cremona Prosecutor's Office. While some reports suggest a self-harm incident, other theories involving an accidental fire or a fight between inmates have been raised. The deceased was scheduled to complete his sentence in mid-August and had been performing maintenance work within the prison perimeter.

The incident has highlighted systemic issues within the Italian prison system. The Sappe union reported that the Cremona facility is significantly overcrowded, housing over 610 inmates despite a regulatory capacity of 384. Union leaders have called for urgent government intervention to address staffing shortages and structural deficiencies.