Survivors and onlookers have offered harrowing accounts of the chaotic outbreak of violence that erupted at Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, over the weekend, leaving three inmates dead and more than a dozen others wounded in one of the most severe disturbances at the facility in recent years.

The melee broke out just after midday on Sunday in an outdoor walkway of the medium-security prison, with videos shared on social media showing groups of inmates brandishing makeshift weapons and sprinting amid frantic shouts and confusion.

According to eyewitnesses, what began as a burst of fighting between a small number of individuals quickly escalated as more inmates joined the fray, overwhelming guards and prompting an urgent response from Washington County Sheriff’s deputies.

Non-lethal crowd control measures were deployed before the situation was brought under control after approximately ninety minutes, authorities said.

The prison, which houses around 1,548 adult male inmates, was placed on lockdown as correctional officers tended to the injured and secured the compound.

Among those killed were inmates Ahmod Hatcher, Jimmy Lee Trammell and Teddy Jackson, whose deaths have intensified scrutiny of conditions inside the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Thirteen other inmates and at least one corrections officer were treated for injuries, ranging from lacerations to more serious trauma.

One injured prisoner required hospitalisation outside the facility.

Staff evacuated visitors from the visiting area after some injured inmates staggered into it during the chaos.

Local officials and corrections authorities have suggested that the brawl may have been gang-related, reflecting persistent tensions within the prison system amid chronic staffing shortages and ongoing challenges with contraband and inmate control.

Videos circulating online captured the rapid spread of the violence, with men racing back and forth along the fenced walkways, striking one another with improvised weapons.

The outbreak has reignited discussions about prison safety and the ability of staff to maintain order when large numbers of inmates are involved in violent confrontations.

In the aftermath, Georgia corrections officials have emphasised efforts to review the incident, support affected staff and inmates, and work toward preventing similar outbreaks.

With ongoing investigations into the precise triggers of the brawl and the circumstances of the fatalities, authorities are balancing transparency with procedural reviews as the medium-security prison continues to operate under heightened security measures.