Over 200 inmates escaped a Pakistani jail amid earthquake panic, officials say

Reuters

Over 200 inmates escaped from a Karachi prison late Monday after earthquake tremors caused panic, prompting guards to unlock cells, according to Pakistani officials.

A mass jailbreak occurred in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, when more than 200 inmates fled from District Malir prison following a series of earthquakes late Monday night. Provincial law minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar said prisoners were temporarily released into the courtyard due to safety concerns after the tremors. Chaos ensued as inmates overpowered guards, seized weapons, and forced open the main gate.

The escape continued into early Tuesday, with prisoners seen running barefoot through nearby areas. Some even entered nearby residential complexes before being apprehended. According to Provincial Police, at least one inmate was killed and three guards were injured during a shootout.

Security footage showed damaged facilities, broken glass, and ransacked visitation rooms. Authorities stated that out of the 6,000 inmates housed in the prison, around 80 escapees had been recaptured as of Tuesday morning. 

Provincial law minister acknowledged the escape as one of the largest in Pakistan’s history and said many inmates were already psychologically distressed by the tremors. 

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