1974: Maze prison goes up in flames
Three prison staff are being treated in hospital after rioting prisoners set fire to the Long Kesh Maze prison near Belfast.
More than 130 prisoners were injured in the trouble - nine needed hospital treatment. One officer is being treated for a suspected fractured skull.
Troops were brought in to quell the violence but much of the camp, which houses 1500 convicted prisoners and internees, has been destroyed.
Overnight, flames were visible along the whole length of the camp from a distance of several miles.
Violence broke out when prison officers were attacked by inmates in a republican compound yesterday at around 1800GMT.
Governor of the Maze, Robert Truesdale, said the army unit controlling the outside perimeter was sent in as soon as fighting broke out.
Reports say republican inmates set fire to their living quarters as troops were called in. Loyalist prisoners are also said to have been involved although this has not been confirmed.
The fire is understood to have started in compound 13 which then spread to at least 20 or 30 other compounds.
Witnesses described how helicopters and army lorries brought in more troop reinforcements to take back control of the prison.
Other helicopters hovered over neighbouring fields and lanes to prevent any breakouts.
Police say fire engines were obstructed from entering because of the ferocity of the rioting inside.
Earlier today the authorities claimed to have regained control of the camp and were restoring order after almost a whole night of rioting.
Extent of damage
Damage to the prison is substantial with a number of prison
buildings and most of the prisoners' living huts completely destroyed.
No explanation has yet been provided for the riots, but both loyalist and republican inmates had recently been protesting over living conditions.
During the night, news of the fighting spread to communities in Belfast. Catholic crowds appeared on the streets in the Ardoyne and Ballymacarrett districts and several hundred uniformed UDA men marched in protestant Ballygomartin.
Northern Ireland Secretary Merlyn Rees has made a statement seeking to dispel rumours that prisoners had been killed, and condemned those seeking to "foment disorder" in the streets with false allegations.