MEXICO CITY - At least 31 prisoners were killed and 13 wounded on Wednesday in a fight between different gangs in the prison in the town of Altamira in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, officials said.

The spokesman for Tamaulipas, Guillermo Martinez, told local media that so far 31 have been confirmed dead. He said that the the incident between the prisoners, with knives and homemade guns, broke out in the afternoon and was controlled hours later.

The Public Security Ministry said in statement that the collective riot broke out when the inmates of module 11 entered into the module 12 at the prison of Santa Amalia, with capacity for 2,000 prisoners, but which has harbored more than 3,000 in reality.

State officials ordered an immediate operation to control the situation and restore order with the intervention of the state' s public security department.

Authorities have identified 13 suspects who they believe were involved, and further investigation will continue on Thursday.

The prison is near the city of Altamira and is guarded by the military and federal police. The riot is the worst registered in the country during the past 12 months.

Soldiers (R) and journalists stand outside a prison after a fight between rival gangs in Altamira, Tamaulipas Jan 4, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]