A fire broke out at the Corfu prison on Tuesday, after inmates reportedly set fire to mattresses and plastic in protest against intensive cell checks, according to kerkyrasimera.gr. The protest is concentrated in the E and G wings of the facility, where prisoners are allegedly refusing to return to their cells.

According to corfutvnews.gr, strong police forces have arrived at the scene, including members of the Corfu Security Sub-directorate, who are conducting an investigation. A prosecutor and negotiator are also expected at the prison.

The unrest follows ongoing tension within the facility, with prisoners voicing long-standing complaints about conditions. According to Athens daily newspaper EFSYN, inmates claim they face inhumane treatment, including physical abuse, denial of basic services, and arbitrary disciplinary measures. They also cite recent penal code changes that have made temporary leave and early release nearly unattainable.

EFSYN reports testimonies of violence by prison officers, including one incident where an inmate was allegedly tied with a rope and dragged by the neck. Other complaints include being woken hourly at night with lights, limited access to drinking water, inadequate food, and near-total absence of medical care.

According to the same source, inmates say requests for leave are often punished, and even minor infractions—such as sewing clothes—can lead to solitary confinement. They also accuse prison authorities of exploiting inmates and mismanaging donations, with no noticeable improvements in prison conditions.

Greece’s Ombudsman released a report earlier this year detailing how Greece’s prisons and detention centers are overcrowded, dangerously understaffed, and risk the health and human rights of detainees and prisoners.