Dozens of inmates escaped from Karachi’s Malir Jail late Monday night after a series of low-intensity earthquakes damaged parts of the prison, triggering panic and a mass breakout, officials said.

Three tremors, ranging between magnitude 3.2 and 3.6, struck within a 24-hour window, with epicentres located along the Landhi Fault. As per reports, the quakes caused cracks in the prison’s walls and a partial structural collapse, creating an opportunity for prisoners to flee.

“The jail break occurred after several earthquakes caused panic among the prisoners,” Sindh Law Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar told reporters outside the prison. His remarks were broadcast live on local television channels on Tuesday.

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As per Reuters, Lanjar confirmed that at least 46 escapees had been recaptured, though he did not provide the total number of inmates who fled. He described the incident as one of the largest prison breaks in Pakistan’s history.

Authorities have launched a manhunt to locate the remaining fugitives and are assessing the full extent of the structural damage.