Thanakrit Jit-areerat, secretary to the justice minister, said today that about 70 inmates rioted late last night. They caused damage to their cells and a workshop, set a fire and threw things at warders, reports the Bangkok Post.
Mr Thanakrit said the prisoners were upset over the response to a COVID-19 outbreak in the prison.
He said more than 100 inmates were infected with COVID-19 but had not been isolated because the prison had only one zone. Other prisons were already packed with their own COVID-19 patients and were unable to admit cases from Krabi prison.
He said Corrections Department director-general Ayuth Sintoppant had flown to the southern province to assess and resolve the problem in consultation with the Krabi police chief.
Mr Thanakrit said the rioters set a fire only as a symbol of their protest. They were not trying to burn down the prison.
He said the situation had been brought under control.