Six prisoners shot dead in mass jailbreak in PNG

8:52 am on 26 February 2020

Six inmates were shot dead after a mass prison escape in Papua New Guinea's Western Highlands province.

The Baisu Correctional Facility in Mt Hagen in Papua New Guinea.

The Baisu Correctional Facility in Mt Hagen in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Supplied/PNG Correctional Services

The NBC reports that the men were among over 100 inmates who escaped in broad daylight from Baisu prison near Mt Hagen.

The broadcaster reports that about 30 prisoners were captured while six were shot while attempting to escape.

PNG's Correctional Service Commissioner, Stephen Pokanis, said a major manhunt was under way by police and correctional services officers.

Last month, two people - a prisoner and a guard - were killed during another group prison escape at Buimo prison in PNG's second city of Lae.

Sixteen inmates managed to escape, and a police hunt for most of them is ongoing.