500 PNG convicts dash for freedom

PORT MORESBY - Prison warders in Papua New Guinea have prevented what would have been the biggest-ever break-out in the country's history, after nearly 500 hungry and angry prisoners made a dash for freedom.

A total of 487 prisoners, more than half the 800 or so inmates at the Baisu jail outside Mount Hagen in PNG's Western Highlands province, attempted to break out on Tuesday afternoon after not being fed for two days.

The would-be escapees got past three lines of fencing and scaled the outer four-metre fence surrounding the prison compound, before warders fired warning shots and managed to herd the prisoners back into their cells. No one was hurt.

A dispute between two rival contractors supplying the prison is believed to have caused the food shortage.

Baisu jail commanding officer, Chief Superintendent Simon Sobaim, told PNG's The National newspaper the prisoners tried to escape because they had gone without food since Sunday.

"As a result, three prisoners fell ill and their enraged fellow prisoners then scaled the three inner compound fences and tried to escape.

"This would not have happened had the ongoing ration problem been resolved," Sobaim said.

"Warders fired shots to stop prisoners from escaping but no one was killed or injured.

"I am thankful that the prisoners surrendered when they heard the shots."

Sobaim said it would have been the biggest break-out in the country's history had the warders failed to stop the prisoners.

"Many of them are extremely dangerous criminals," he said.

Prison escapes are not uncommon in PNG.

- AAP