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| Indonesia prison break: Five die and dozens escape | Indonesia prison break: Five die and dozens escape |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Five people are reported to have been killed in a riot at a prison in Indonesia's Sumatra island that led to the escape of dozens of inmates. | Five people are reported to have been killed in a riot at a prison in Indonesia's Sumatra island that led to the escape of dozens of inmates. |
| The riot broke out at Tanjung Gusta prison in Medan on Thursday, leaving parts of the jail engulfed in flames. | The riot broke out at Tanjung Gusta prison in Medan on Thursday, leaving parts of the jail engulfed in flames. |
| Police said the violence was sparked by a power cut that left inmates without water. | Police said the violence was sparked by a power cut that left inmates without water. |
| Hundreds of security personnel are searching for more than 100 inmates who escaped during the riot. | Hundreds of security personnel are searching for more than 100 inmates who escaped during the riot. |
| Officials say the prisoners broke down the doors of the warden's office, fought with the wardens, pelted rocks and set the office on fire, says the BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta. | Officials say the prisoners broke down the doors of the warden's office, fought with the wardens, pelted rocks and set the office on fire, says the BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta. |
| Security forces are still struggling to regain control of the prison, our correspondent adds. | Security forces are still struggling to regain control of the prison, our correspondent adds. |
| A police spokesman told Agence-France Presse (AFP) that talks would be held later in the day to try and resolve the stand-off. | A police spokesman told Agence-France Presse (AFP) that talks would be held later in the day to try and resolve the stand-off. |
| Overcrowded | Overcrowded |
| Among the escapees were a number of people convicted of terrorism offences, police said. | Among the escapees were a number of people convicted of terrorism offences, police said. |
| Local officials say at least 55 fugitives have been recaptured, but the number of others remaining at large is not clear. | |
| Police were manning checkpoints on roads around the prison, reports said. | Police were manning checkpoints on roads around the prison, reports said. |
| At least two prison staff and two inmates were reported to be among the dead. One report said they had died in a building that was set on fire. | |
| The violence erupted after a power cut knocked out pumps that provide water to the prison, which is home to more than 2,600 inmates - even though it was built to house just over 1,000. | The violence erupted after a power cut knocked out pumps that provide water to the prison, which is home to more than 2,600 inmates - even though it was built to house just over 1,000. |
| "The prisoners were annoyed by a blackout and problems getting water, which they said happens often at the prison," Heru Prakoso, a spokesman for North Sumatra province police, told Agence France Presse. | "The prisoners were annoyed by a blackout and problems getting water, which they said happens often at the prison," Heru Prakoso, a spokesman for North Sumatra province police, told Agence France Presse. |
| Indonesia's prisons are typically underfunded and overcrowded. The UK-based International Centre for Prison Studies estimated that in 2012, the Indonesian prison system was at almost 150% capacity. | Indonesia's prisons are typically underfunded and overcrowded. The UK-based International Centre for Prison Studies estimated that in 2012, the Indonesian prison system was at almost 150% capacity. |
| Last year, the biggest jail on Bali island also saw days of rioting before officials were able to regain control. | Last year, the biggest jail on Bali island also saw days of rioting before officials were able to regain control. |
| Medan is the capital of North Sumatra and Indonesia's fourth-largest city. | Medan is the capital of North Sumatra and Indonesia's fourth-largest city. |