At least 216 inmates escaped a prison in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi, jail authorities confirmed Tuesday.
As many as 78 prisoners were recaptured, according to a statement from the jail superintendent.
The prison break in the jail located in Malir, an industrial neighborhood, is one of the largest in the country.
It all started when mild tremors from an earthquake weakened the walls of the barracks.
Seizing the opportunity, several prisoners began pushing against the already fragile structures, shouting and creating panic within the compound.
A copy of the notification from jail authoritiesNukta
The jail guards tried to placate the prisoners, but they started “breaking the doors,” the statement said.
"Thousands of prisoners were pushed back,” the statement further said, after additional deployment of law enforcement agencies reached the spot.
At least one prisoner died in the chaos, said provincial Home Minister Zia Lanjar.
The fleeing prisoners snatched guns from police officers stationed at the premises leading to a shootout, police said.
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.
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“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.”
Security breach
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.
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