Manhunt in South Africa as prisoners escape

Police in South Africa say they have re-arrested "several escapees" who broke out of a prison in the Western Cape on Friday, but others remain at large.

"The search party including detectives, on foot and in vehicles, has already covered much ground", Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said.

It's not yet clear how many inmates escaped Malmesbury Prison but video filmed earlier on Friday appeared to show dozens running away:

IOL news has shared this footage of police and prison officers searching the area, with the sound of loud gunfire:

Many around the world have expressed concern that people confined to jail, living in close proximity to one another in often unhygienic conditions, cannot observe key coronavirus prevention measures.

In May, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said 19,000 inmates would be granted parole to curb the spread of Covid-19.

This article was originally published by BBC News. Photo: EWN