Did a mild earthquake trigger a prison break in Pakistan?

A minor earthquake late Monday night triggered chaos at a jail in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi, leading to a prison break in which dozens of inmates fled, police and provincial authorities confirmed Tuesday.

According to SP Malir Kashif Abbasi, mild tremors were felt in parts of Karachi around midnight, which caused visible weakening of the prison barracks’ walls. The prison was located in in the Malir district, an industrial neighborhood.

Seizing the opportunity, several prisoners began pushing against the already fragile structures, shouting and creating panic within the compound.

“In the commotion, the prisoners broke through the compromised walls and spilled onto the main National Highway,” a police official told Nukta requesting anonymity. They also snatched guns from police officers stationed at the premises leading to a shootout, the official said.

At least one prisoner died in the chaos, while the number of those who managed to escape remains uncertain, said Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar.

Prisoner account

"I ran because everyone was running," a prisoner identified as Siraj told Nukta.

"Cracks appeared in the walls of barracks after the earthquake tremors. Some of the tougher guys pushed the walls to break them," he added.

He denied the allegations that the prisoners opened fire at police, saying "we had no guns."

"I climbed the gate and hid in an empty plot nearby," he added.

Footage from inside the jail showed broken window glass in the officers room and visiting area.

Search operation initiated

By early Tuesday, additional police troops were deployed to secure Malir Jail and surrounding areas. A late-night counting of prisoners was initiated by jail authorities to determine the exact number of escapees.

Lanjar confirmed that 30 of the escapees had been rearrested by morning and efforts were underway to locate the remaining individuals.

“There is no indication that any hardened criminals escaped,” Lanjar told reporters. “Most of those who fled were being held on charges related to drug use or petty crimes.”

Jail authorities began a late-night count to determine how many prisoners were missing. Sindh police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said a final tally was still underway.

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Authorities have launched an inquiry into how such a large breach occurred and whether structural weaknesses in the prison had been previously reported. Search operations are ongoing in the nearby neighborhoods and within the jail premises.

The incident has raised serious concerns over prison infrastructure and emergency preparedness in the province.

Police patrols have been increased across Karachi, particularly in areas surrounding the National Highway and Malir, as the manhunt continues.

* This is a developing story