Relatives wait for information about inmates

After a night of terror and uncertainty,relatives of Comayagua's inmates spent Wednesday waiting for information about their loved ones, surrounded by the reality of the prison fire that killed 357 people.

Red Cross volunteer Jose Manuel Gomez, a Red Cross volunteer described the scene inside.

SOUNDBITE: Red Cross volunteer Jose Manuel Gomez saying (Spanish):

"It's dramatic, horrible. We saw a completely charred body and we are placing them into bags in parts. Because when we grab them, they disintegrate. Shocking."

Officials are using dental records and DNA in many cases to identify those killed.

Outside, there was anguish and for some, a sense of resignation.

SOUNDBITE: Relative of inmate, Mirna Romero saying (Spanish):

"We know he's dead because he's not mentioned and he was in section 10."

The scene was a stark contrast to the tumultuous early hours immediately after the fire as relatives descended on the prison and tried to force their way in.

The fire at the detention center, located 45 miles outside of Tegucigalpa, is considered one of the worst prison fires ever in Latin America. Officials expressed their condolences to the families and promised a full investigation into the fire and the dangerous overcrowding inside.

Deborah Gembara, Reuters