53 inmates escaped from prison in Indonesia

KATHMANDU: A total of 53 prisoners have escaped from an Indonesian prison.

Officials said 53 prisoners escaped from a prison in Sorong, in the southwestern Papua province of eastern Indonesia, around 11 a.m. local time.

The police have closed the checkpoint outside Sorong city to recapture the escaped prisoners.

“The efforts we have made are also blocking roads outside Sorong City, the port and airport while collecting data on escaped prisoners,” said Yudianto on Sunday.

Yudianto said the escaped prisoners were involved in common crimes and drug cases.

Before the mass escape occurred, Sorong Prison held 543 inmates, which had far exceeded its capacity of 250.