PI Vught Prison Evacuated After Fire, All 162 Inmates Return

A fire broke out on Saturday in a washing‑room device at the PI Vught prison in the Netherlands, prompting the evacuation of an entire wing. All 162 detainees were moved; 30 remained within the prison while 132 were transferred to other facilities due to water damage that made the cells unsafe.

The operation, described by prison director Carla Wijnhoven as “unprecedented” and praised for the cooperation of both staff and prisoners, was completed by Tuesday night, allowing every inmate to return to his or her original cell. No injuries were reported and the fire did not affect the Extra Beveiligde Inrichting (EBI) where the most dangerous criminals are housed.