Fire at Iranian Prison Kills 27 People

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- A fire broke out in an Iranian prison Monday, killing 27 people and injuring 50, officials said.

The fire broke out inside a prison in Gorgan, capital of northern Golestan province on the Caspian sea, the prison's director Abbas Ali Arab, was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

The agency quoted provincial official Hossein Rafati as saying that the fire was caused by a short circuit.

The fire broke out early Monday morning and authorities have launched an investigation, the agency said.