Inmates flee in quake-hit island

Inmates flee in quake-hit island

JAKARTA: A total of 178 prisoners fled Gunung Sitoli
Penitentiary on Nias when a massive earthquake hit the island on
Monday night.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis said on
Wednesday the inmates had fled to safety after the wardens
unlocked the prison as part of its building collapsed.

He said the police had posted a statement asking the prisoners
to turn themselves in to the nearest police station.

If they did not surrender but were captured their jail term
would be extended, he said.

In a similar incident, hundreds of inmates broke out of jail
in Banda Aceh when a gigantic quake and subsequent tsunamis
devastated much of Aceh and parts of North Sumatra on Dec. 26.
However, most of the escapees have turned themselves in.

Zainuri said the police had sent seven medical staff to Nias,
including two doctors and five nurses along with two airplanes --
a Fokker 50 and Skytrack -- to help the quake victims. -- JP