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