Over 200 inmates broke out of a prison in Karachi, Pakistan, following a series of earthquake tremors that triggered chaos and panic during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
According to officials, a total of 216 prisoners escaped from the Malir district jail at approximately 1:30 am local time (2030 GMT), after tremors struck the coastal city. At least one inmate was reported dead, and twelve others — including prison staff — sustained injuries during the stampede-like breakout.
The Sindh Province’s Information Minister,Sharjeel Inam Memon, confirmed the incident, revealing that only 87 of the escaped inmates have been recaptured, while a large number remain at large. Most of the escapees are reportedly drug offenders and petty thieves.
“There was panic among the prisoners because of the earthquake,” Memon stated during a press briefing. He further announced that the head of the provincial prison service has been relieved of his duties in the aftermath of the jailbreak.
Photos from the scene show damaged prison infrastructure, including shattered and bullet-riddled windows, highlighting the extent of the chaos caused during the incident. The break also revealed the fragile state of many of Pakistan’s correctional facilities, already notorious for overcrowding, corruption, poor maintenance, and human rights abuses.
Officials say the jailbreak occurred amidst a surge of seismic activity in Karachi. The Acting Head of Sindh Meteorology Office, Amir Hyder Laghari, confirmed that more than 20 tremors have been recorded in the city within the past three days. Although the tremors have not caused major structural damage in the wider city, the psychological impact among prisoners, already in cramped and fragile conditions, proved to be enough to spark chaos.
Government authorities have urged all escaped inmates to voluntarily return, while intensified efforts continue to track and re-arrest the remaining escapees. Security has also been increased at other facilities in the province as a precautionary measure.
This latest incident casts a spotlight on Pakistan’s correctional challenges, where thousands of inmates await trials for years due to slow judicial processes. Human rights groups have long called for reforms to decongest prisons, improve living conditions, and strengthen oversight.
As recovery and search operations continue, questions are being raised about the prison’s emergency preparedness, and whether sufficient disaster response protocols were in place. The government has promised an internal investigation and a possible overhaul of prison management practices to avoid such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Karachi residents have expressed concern over the escape, with many urging the authorities to publicly release names and photos of the fugitives to ensure community safety.
The prison service is yet to release a complete list of the escapees, but officials maintain that a full review is underway and further arrests are expected in the coming days.
