Over 200 inmates escape Pakistani prison after earthquake

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Over 200 inmates escaped from a prison in Pakistan on Monday after a series of earthquakes shook the southern port city of Karachi and set off panic, local authorities said.

More than 600 inmates at Malir prison were being transferred to another section of the facility for their security after the quake when some attempted to flee, Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar, the interior minister of Sindh province, told reporters Tuesday.

So far, 80 escapees have been rearrested, jail superintendent Arshad Shah told reporters in Karachi, adding that “efforts are underway to recapture the remaining 136 prisoners.”

One inmate was killed and 22 others, including prison and police personnel, were wounded in the ensuing chaos Monday night, Lanjar told reporters.

Ghulam Nabi Memon, the Sindh province police chief, said most of the inmates were facing drug charges and other smaller cases.

Memon said authorities have data on who exactly has escaped and will be able to bring them back.

“There will be an inquiry to see why and how this happened,” he said.

Sharjeel Inam Memon, the Sindh province information minister, said the inmates would be safe from government action if they returned to the prison within 24 hours, warning of strict punishment for those who did not.

Karachi experienced multiple mild and shallow earthquakes over the past day up to 3.4 in magnitude, according to Pakistan’s National Seismic Monitoring Center.

Prison breaks are rare in Pakistan, where security has been ramped up since 2013, when the Pakistani Taliban helped 200 inmates break free during an attack on a prison in another province.

Mushtaq Yusufzai reported from Peshawar, Pakistan, and Mithil Aggarwal reported from Hong Kong.