More than 200 inmates managed to escape from Malir Jail in Karachi, Pakistan, on Tuesday, when a powerful earthquake caused chaos inside the facility. As tremors shook the building, frightened prisoners broke down doors, smashed windows, and rushed for the gates, leaving the facility’s security scrambling.
Reports indicate that around 80 of the escapees have been recaptured, while over 130 remain missing. The violent outburst resulted in one inmate's death and two prison officers sustaining injuries. According to the prison superintendent, the inmates’ fears of the structure collapsing led to frantic shouts for help as the quake struck near midnight.
In an attempt to regain control, police resorted to firing warning shots, which caused many inmates to return to their cells. However, a significant number seized the opportunity to flee, ultimately resulting in 216 prisoners escaping the prison.
Authorities are launching door-to-door searches to locate the missing inmates. Meanwhile, families of other prisoners have voiced their frustrations outside the jail, demanding answers, as visitation hours have been halted. A prison ministry official has promised an investigation, asserting that this incident was not due to a security failure but rather a response to a natural disaster.
